Governor Signs Bill to Improve Quality in Expanded Learning Programs

September 18, 2014

Report Outlining Standards Developed in Partnership with School’s California Afterschool Network

On September 17, 2014, California’s governor, Jerry Brown, signed SB 1221 into law, which will improve the quality of after-school and expanded learning programs and encourage more programs to operate year-round. The law relies upon the development of standards completed through a partnership between the California Department of Education’s (CDE) After School Division and the California AfterSchool Network (CAN) Quality Committee. CAN is housed in the UC Davis School of Education.

Last week Tom Tolakson, superintendent of public instruction, released Quality Standards for Expanded Learning in California, which provides a road map and a set of guidelines for implementing innovative and engaging programs.

How Standards Were Developed

The Quality Standards were developed in two distinct phases (Phase I and Phase II) through a partnership between the After School Division and the CAN Quality Committee. The Work Groups on Quality Standards (Phase I and II) created a set of 12 Quality Standards and descriptions of what each standard should look like in action (Standards in Action). Standards in Action are described at the programmatic, staff, and participant levels. In addition, A Crosswalk Between the Quality Standards for Expanded Learning and Program Quality Assessment Tools was created. This Crosswalk outlines a number of available tools that can be used for quality assessment and improvement.

Recommendations and reports are available on the California Afterschool Network’s website.

SB 1221 (Hancock) signed by the Governor

SB 1221 gives priority points to programs that support year-round learning opportunities, updates program-reporting requirements by removing defunct standardized tests, focusing on program and school-day attendance by student identifier number, and requiring evidence of program quality improvement processes. This bill also requires CDE to develop a biennial report to the legislature. This bill was sponsored by CDE and the Partnership for Children and Youth.