California § 53009.5 - For the 2026

§ 53009.5. For the 2026

(a) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the sum of forty million dollars ($40,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent for allocation to local educational agencies that administer literacy screenings to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 for risk of reading difficulties to support implementation of the requirements of Section 53008 of the Education Code, in the manner specified in this section. (b) The Superintendent shall make the following computations in order to determine the amount of funding for each local educational agency: (1) (A) Determine the total number of pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2, but excluding pupils in transitional kindergarten, attending school in that local educational agency using the prior year’s school enrollment data as of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 Certification. (B) Calculate a statewide total number of pupils by adding the total number of pupils identified pursuant to subparagraph (A) across all local educational agencies. (2) Calculate a per-pupil rate by dividing the amount appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a) by the statewide total number of pupils identified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1). (3) Calculate the apportionment for each local educational agency by multiplying the per-pupil rate calculated in paragraph (2) by the number determined in paragraph (1) for the local educational agency. (c) The governing board or body of a local educational agency serving pupils in kindergarten or grade 1 or 2 shall expend the funds received pursuant to this section on any costs associated with the implementation of Section 53008 of the Education Code, including, but not limited to, the procurement of screening instruments, screening administration, and training for school employees to administer pupil screenings in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2, but excluding transitional kindergarten, in order to assess for risk of reading difficulties using screening instruments approved pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 53008. (d) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII   B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year. (e) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.