54460-54465
EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 54460-54465
54460. There is in the Department of Education the office of Director of Compensatory Education. The Director of Compensatory Education shall be appointed by the State Board of Education, upon nomination by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and he shall be subject to state civil service. In performing his duties and responsibilities under this chapter the director shall act as the representative of the Department of Education. The Director of Compensatory Education shall be provided with such facilities and staffing necessary to provide him with such technical and clerical assistance as is required in order for him to carry out his duties under the provisions of this chapter. 54461. The Director of Compensatory Education shall, under the policy direction of the State Board of Education and the administrative direction of the Director of Education, have overall supervision and control of programs of compensatory education provided throughout the state, and shall take action necessary to coordinate all such programs. He shall, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, be responsible for receiving and recommending approval or disapproval to the State Board of Education of local program applications and providing technical and consultative assistance to school districts. The Director of Compensatory Education shall conduct continuing research and study of the subject of programs of compensatory education, involving not only the examination and evaluation of programs established under the provisions of this chapter but comparable undertakings in other states, to the end of effecting improvement in the administration of the programs for compensatory education established under the provisions of this chapter. He shall serve as a clearinghouse and center of information, and shall issue and disseminate to school districts participating in programs established under this chapter or otherwise affected by problems presented by the presence of disadvantaged minors anywhere, such publications and results of investigations as will tend to foster the establishment of sound programs for compensatory education and to enhance their effectiveness. He shall collect and provide information concerning sources of federal, state, and local public funds, and private funds, which may be available for compensatory education purposes. It shall be the responsibility of the local officials and agencies of the public school system to take necessary measures to secure all outside financial assistance which may be available. The State Board of Education, on recommendation of the Director of Compensatory Education, shall determine the eligibility of applicant school districts for grants provided under this chapter. Applications for approval of programs and for grants shall be comprehensive in scope. Applicant districts shall, to the extent practicable, provide programs at all grade levels, but special emphasis is to be given programs provided at the preschool and early elementary grade levels. 54462. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including rules and regulations which: (a) Prescribe the procedure by which a district shall identify disadvantaged minors. (b) Establish minimum standards for programs. (c) Require the annual submission of such reports by school districts as will permit the evaluation of the programs of compensatory education and the accumulation of data and information which will be useful in developing suggestions, policies, and requirements for improvement of such programs generally. 54463. The State Board of Education, on the recommendation of the Director of Compensatory Education, shall, for purposes of this chapter, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education implementing the same, have the power to approve, withhold approval of, or disapprove of any program of compensatory education. 54464. The Director of Compensatory Education shall not recommend, and the State Board of Education shall not approve, a project or program in compensatory education without assurance that the teacher in the class in which the project or program is to be conducted and other certificated personnel required to provide services under the project or program hold a regular credential. The Director of Compensatory Education may waive this requirement where the school district submits evidence which is satisfactory to him that provisionally credentialed teachers have been provided through an established career opportunities program, a teacher corps program, or through a district career development plan designed to provide employment opportunities, concurrent training, and career advancement for capable persons of low-income background who wish to enter the teaching profession. 54465. For all purposes of this chapter the Director of Compensatory Education may array and assign priorities to the programs of compensatory education maintained by the different school districts on the basis of numbers, concentration or density of disadvantaged pupils in particular areas.