Pupil health: multitiered and integrated interventions pilot program.

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and provides for the establishment of school districts and other local educational agencies to operate these schools and provide instruction to pupils. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, among his or her other duties, to serve as the chief executive officer of the State Department of Education. Existing law makes a one-time appropriation from the General Fund to the Superintendent to apportion to a designated county office of education or designated county offices of education for the purposes of providing technical assistance and encouraging and assisting in the development of schoolwide, data-driven systems of learning and behavioral supports to meet the needs of California's diverse learners. This bill, until January 1, 2020, would require the designated county office of education or county offices of education in the above-mentioned appropriation, in conjunction with the State Board of Education and a steering committee that the bill would require the department to establish, to establish a 3-year pilot program to encourage inclusive practices that integrate mental health, special education, and school climate interventions following a multitiered framework in school districts that apply to participate, as specified. The bill would require the designated county office of education or designated county offices of education to select schools where at least 60% of the student body is eligible for a free or reduced-price meal program and whose applications provide evidence of a plan to serve their pupils with a combination of school funds and mental health funds and detail a model approach that targets the behavioral, emotional, and academic needs of pupils with multitiered and integrated mental health, special education, and school climate interventions. The bill, in accordance with the above-mentioned appropriation, would require the designated county office of education or county offices of education to provide startup and evaluation funding to each school participating in the pilot program, and would require the department, in accordance with a comprehensive evaluation plan developed by the steering committee, to assess the impact of the pilot program and disseminate best practices. The bill would require the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to revise its guidelines and regulations regarding prevention and early intervention programs in K–12 schools, as specified.