BILL NUMBER: AB 374INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Block FEBRUARY 23, 2009 An act to add Article 10 (commencing with Section 48350) to Chapter 2 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to high school pupils. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 374, as introduced, Block. Dropout acknowledgment form. (1) Existing law subjects each person between 6 and 18 years of age who is not exempted under specified statutes to compulsory full-time education. Existing law subjects each person between 16 years of age and 18 years of age who is not otherwise covered by specified exemptions, including, among others, graduation from a public or private high school or attendance at a public or private full-time day school, to compulsory continuation education. Existing law requires each person subject to compulsory full-time education or compulsory continuation education who is not otherwise exempted to attend a public full-time day school or continuation school or classes for the full time designated as the length of the schoolday by the governing board of the school district in which the residency of either the parent or legal guardian is located and requires each parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of the pupil to send the pupil to the public full-time day school or continuation school or classes for the full time designated as the length of the schoolday by the governing board of the school district in which the residence of either the parent or legal guardian is located. Existing law prescribes truancy procedures for pupils who do not comply with these provisions. Existing law obligates parents or guardians to compel the attendance of their children who have been classified as truants at school and provides for criminal prosecution of parents or guardians who fail to meet this obligation. This bill would require each school district to produce a Consequences of Dropping Out Acknowledgment Form, as described, and make copies of the form available to each of its schools that offer any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive. The bill would require an administrator or other certificated employee of a public school that offers any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, who becomes aware of the intent of a pupil to drop out of school prior to reaching 18 years of age or completing the requirements for graduation from high school, to make every reasonable effort to provide the pupil with a copy of the form provided by the school district. By requiring school district and school personnel to perform additional duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the findings of both of the following projects support the consequences listed in the Consequences of Dropping Out Acknowledgment Form proposed by this act: (a) "The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts," a report by Civic Enterprises in association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates. (b) The Civil Rights Project in association with the University of California at Los Angeles and Harvard University. SEC. 2. Article 10 (commencing with Section 48350) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read: Article 10. Consequences of Dropping Out Acknowledgment Form 48350. It is the intent of the Legislature that this article be implemented in a manner that is consistent with the duties of public school officers and employees pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 48400). This article does not grant pupils any right to drop out of school prior to reaching 18 years of age or completing the requirements for graduation from high school. 48351. (a) Each school district shall produce a Consequences of Dropping Out Acknowledgment Form, as described in subdivision (c), and make copies of the form available to each of its schools that offer any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive. (b) If an administrator or other certificated employee of a public school that offers any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, becomes aware of the intent of a pupil to drop out of school prior to reaching 18 years of age or completing the requirements for graduation from high school, the administrator or employee shall make every reasonable effort to provide the pupil with a copy of the Consequences of Dropping Out Acknowledgment Form provided by the school district pursuant to subdivision (a). (c) The Consequences of Dropping Out Acknowledgment Form shall include all of the following in the following descending order: (1) The title "Consequences of Dropping Out Acknowledgment Form" centered at the top of the form. (2) A separate line for the pupil to print his or her name. (3) The following statement: "By signing this form, I acknowledge that I have been fully informed of all of the following: (I) This form does not grant me the right to drop out of school. I remain subject to the compulsory attendance requirements and truancy procedures set forth in state law. (II) The potential consequences of dropping out of school prior to reaching 18 years of age or completing the requirements for graduation from high school include all of the following: greater difficulty in finding a job; reduced income and purchasing power; a greater likelihood of engaging in criminal activity; a greater likelihood of spending time in jail and/or prison; a greater likelihood of receiving welfare and/or other forms of public assistance; fewer choices about where to live; and a lesser likelihood of properly caring for and educating children. (III) I have been fully informed of my right to reenroll in school to complete the requirements for graduation from high school, the procedure for reenrollment in school, and the availability of alternative educational services, including continuation school, independent study, adult education, community college, and the General Educational Development (GED) tests." (4) A separate signature line for the pupil. (5) A separate line for the parent or guardian to print his or her name. (6) The following statement: "By signing this form, I acknowledge that I have been fully informed of all of the following: (I) My child or dependent, the student named above, remains subject to the compulsory attendance requirements and truancy procedures set forth in state law. (II) The consequences of my child or dependent dropping out of school prior to reaching 18 years of age or completing the requirements for graduation from high school, as described above. (III) My child's or dependent's right to reenroll in school to complete the requirements for graduation from high school, the procedure for reenrollment in school, and the availability of alternative educational services, including continuation school, independent study, adult education, community college, and the General Educational Development (GED) tests." (7) A separate signature line for the parent or guardian of the pupil. SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.