Bill > AB84

This bill aims to enhance school accountability, oversight, and financial transparency across California's educational system, with a particular focus on charter schools. The bill establishes the Office of the Education Inspector General, which will be appointed by the Governor and tasked with conducting forensic audits and investigations into potential fraud, misappropriation of funds, and other illegal practices within educational agencies. The Education Inspector General will have the authority to refer findings to law enforcement and provide annual reports to the Legislature. The bill introduces several key changes to charter school oversight, including requiring chartering authorities to annually review charter school data, attend governing body meetings, monitor payments, and verify average daily attendance reporting. It also establishes new funding determination criteria for nonclassroom-based charter schools, requiring them to spend a certain percentage of revenue on certificated staff salaries and instruction-related services. Additionally, the bill creates multiple grant programs to support charter school authorization and oversight, including the Chartering Authority Mentor Grant Program, the Charter School Authorizer Grant Program, and the Charter School Standardized Account Code Structure Grant Program. These programs aim to provide technical assistance, cover increased oversight costs, and help charter schools implement standardized financial reporting. The legislation also introduces new contracting requirements for local educational agencies, mandating policies that ensure public funds are used appropriately, prohibit certain incentive practices, and maintain transparency and accountability in contractor selection and oversight. Other provisions include enhancing audit requirements, establishing more stringent teacher credentialing and assignment monitoring, and creating an advisory committee on charter schools. The bill seeks to improve fiscal management, prevent fraud, and ensure that charter schools are effectively serving students' educational needs.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB84