§ 52073.4. — 52073.4. (Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 8, Sec. 50.)

(a)
(1)
Contingent upon federal English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act (20 U.S.C. 6811 et seq.) funds appropriated in Item 6100-125-0890 of the Budget Act of 2025 for the support of regional English learner lead agencies not being available due to a reduction in California’s receipt of federal funds, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent to award to county offices of education serving as regional English learner lead agencies consistent with this section.
(2)
Commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be annually appropriated each
fiscal year from the General Fund to the Superintendent to award to county offices of education serving as regional English learner lead agencies consistent with this section.
(b)
For the 2025–26 fiscal year, the department shall allocate the funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a) to the 11 county offices of education serving as regional county office of education English learner specialists, pursuant to Provision 2 of Item 6100-125-0890 of the Budget Act of 2024, to provide technical assistance to local educational agencies on state and federal programs, and recommendations for best practices, instructional strategies, and improvement in English language proficiency and state academic standards. The department shall assess the performance of the county offices of education in performing the duties specified according to the metrics approved by the executive director of the state board pursuant to Provision 2 of Item 6100-125-0890 of
the Budget Act of 2023, to the extent practicable, and provide a final report to the Department of Finance and the executive director of the state board on the regional county offices of education’s performance on these metrics no later than December 30, 2026.
(c)
(1)
On or before July 1, 2026, the department shall select, in consultation with and subject to approval by the executive director of the state board, county offices of education to serve as regional English learner lead agencies to conduct the activities required pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2)
The process to select regional English learner lead agencies shall ensure that no fewer than five and no more than seven regional English learner lead agencies are selected in a manner to ensure statewide coverage. Regional English learner lead agencies shall be selected for a term not to exceed four
years.
(3)
The process to select regional English learner lead agencies shall, at a minimum, specify that a county office of education applying to be a regional English learner lead agency demonstrate all of the following:
(A)
Appropriate expertise of the California English Learner Roadmap State Board of Education Policy: Educational Programs and Services for English Learners (EL Roadmap Policy), adopted by the state board on July 12, 2017.
(B)
Ability to build the capacity of county offices of education within a defined region to provide effective assistance and support to school districts and charter schools around high-quality, comprehensive English language development instruction.
(C)
Demonstrated capacity to provide technical assistance and
resources to school districts and charter schools that support the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective English learner instructional programs.
(D)
Capacity and willingness to provide necessary assistance and support to other county offices of education.
(E)
Ability to coordinate and calibrate assistance and support provided to local educational agencies within a defined region and with other regional English learner lead agencies, Literacy Lead Agencies, and the department.
(F)
Willingness and ability to establish outcome measures and high-leverage strategies, monitor progress, and be held accountable for improved performance across multiple measures within a defined region.
(4)
Priority consideration to serve as a regional English
learner lead agency shall be given to a county office of education with experience providing technical assistance to local educational agencies on state and federal requirements related to English learners pursuant to Provision 2 of Item 6100-125-0890 of the Budget Act of 2024.
(d)
A regional English learner lead agency shall have all of the following responsibilities:
(1)
Assist in building the capacity of county offices of education within the regional English learner lead agency’s defined region to provide technical assistance to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective English learner instructional programs.
(2)
Coordinate and calibrate assistance and support provided to local educational agencies within its defined region and with other regional English learner lead agencies,
geographic lead agencies identified pursuant to Section 52073, expert lead agencies identified pursuant to Section 52073.1, special education resource leads identified pursuant to Section 52073.2, literacy leads in the Statewide Literacy Network pursuant to Section 90 of the act that added this section, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, and the department. This shall include coordinating and calibrating assistance provided to school districts and charter schools receiving technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 52071 and subdivision (a) of Section 47607.3, based on performance on the state and local indicators included in the California School Dashboard pursuant to Section 52064.5 of English learners and long-term English learners as defined in Section 52052.
(3)
Coordinate and collaborate with other regional English learner lead agencies to provide support around high-quality English language
development instruction across regions.
(4)
Identify existing resources, professional development activities, and other efforts currently available within its designated region to assist local educational agencies in building effective English language acquisition programs and share information about these existing resources.
(5)
In alignment with Section 361, work to incorporate the EL Roadmap Policy meaningfully within the statewide system of support established pursuant to Section 52059.5.
(6)
Upon request by the department, develop new resources and activities that are designed to build capacity within local educational agencies to support the outcomes of English learner pupils, including long-term English learners.
(7)
Participate in the Statewide
Literacy Network activities to convene literacy leads to support statewide implementation of evidence-based practices aligned to the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 60207, the English Learner Roadmap, the Literacy Roadmap, and the use of data to support effective instruction.
(8)
Other duties as specified by the department.
(e)
The department shall assist the regional English learner lead agencies in fulfilling the responsibilities described in subdivision (d).
(f)
(1)
At the conclusion of the term for each selected regional English learner lead agency, the department, subject to approval by the executive director of the state board, may renew the selection of the existing regional English learner lead
agency or reopen the selection of a regional English learner lead agency in a manner consistent with subdivision (c).
(2)
Before renewing the selection of an existing regional English learner lead agency, the department shall determine that the regional English learner lead agency has been successful in doing both of the following:
(A)
Meeting the outcome measures established pursuant to subparagraph (F) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c).
(B)
Fulfilling the responsibilities described in subdivision (d), including, but not limited to, progress in supporting school districts and charter schools and building the capacity of county offices of education within the regional English learner lead agency’s defined region, as demonstrated by trends within the regional English learner lead agency’s defined region in the
number of school districts and charter schools receiving technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 52071 and subdivision (a) of Section 47607.3, and the number of school districts and charter schools that stopped receiving technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 52071 and subdivision (a) of Section 47607.3 due to improved performance on the state and local indicators developed for the California School Dashboard pursuant to Section 52064.5 of English learners and long-term English learners as defined in Section 52052.
(3)
As part of the request for renewal, an existing regional English learner lead agency shall provide a description of efforts the regional English learner lead agency has made to fulfill the responsibilities described in subdivision (d).
(g)
For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the
California Constitution, the appropriations 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 fiscal year in which they are appropriated, 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 fiscal year in which they are appropriated.

Legislative History

Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 8, Sec. 50. (AB 121) Effective June 27, 2025.