School districts of choice.

Existing law requires each person between the ages of 6 and 18 years, who is not otherwise exempt, to attend the public full-time day school in the school district in which his or her parent or guardian is a resident. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to accept interdistrict transfers by adopting a resolution to become a school district of choice, as defined, and authorizes the governing board to ensure, by resolution, that pupils accepted for transfer are selected through a random, unbiased process that prohibits an evaluation of whether or not the pupil should be enrolled based upon his or her academic or athletic performance. Existing law authorizes a school district of choice to reject the transfer of a pupil if the transfer of that pupil would require the district to create a new program to serve that pupil, except that a school district of choice is prohibited from rejecting the transfer of a special needs pupil, including an individual with exceptional needs, and an English learner. Existing law requires a school district of choice to give priority for attendance to siblings of children already in attendance in that district and authorizes the district to give priority for attendance to children of military personnel. Existing law authorizes a school district of residence to limit the number of pupils transferring out each year, as specified. This bill would require a school district of choice to give priority to English learners, pupils who are individuals with exceptional needs, and pupils who are eligible for free and reduced price meals. The bill would make a legislative finding and declaration related to the fiscal responsibilities of the county superintendent of schools in implementing the limitation on the transfers out of a school district of residence. The bill would require a school district of choice to ensure that a pupil who transfers into the district is enrolled in a school with a higher Academic Performance Index score than the school in which the pupil was previously enrolled.