AB 130 Authorization of Antibias Education Grant

SEC. 157.

(a) For the 2021–22 fiscal year, the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for transfer by the Controller to Section A of the State School Fund for allocation by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish the Antibias Education Grant Program in the manner and for the purpose set forth in this section.

(b) The Antibias Education Grant Program is hereby established for purposes of preventing, addressing, and eliminating racism and bias in all California public schools, and making all public schools inclusive and supportive of all people.

(c) (1) For the 2021–22 fiscal year, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall award a minimum of 50 grants to local educational agencies. A local educational agency shall not receive a grant under this subdivision of less than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). These funds are available for expenditure or encumbrance through the 2025–26 fiscal year.

(2) The State Department of Education shall develop an application and criteria a local educational agency must meet to receive funding. A local educational agency that applies for funds shall, at a minimum, demonstrate a need for additional antibias education and training, and describe how the funds will be used.

(3) (A) A grant award under this subdivision shall be known as an Antibias Education Grant. An Antibias Education Grant shall be used for training and resources to prevent and address bias or prejudice toward any group of people based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status, language, or any actual or perceived characteristic listed in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code. Emphasis shall be on preventing anti-Semitism and bias or prejudice toward groups, including, but not limited to, African Americans, Asian-Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth.

(B) Eligible activities for an Antibias Education Grant may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

(i) Professional development on topics that address hate, bigotry, racism, or any form of bias or prejudice, including, but not limited to, classroom management techniques, self-regulation, and strategies designed to increase teachers’ skills for managing pupils in academic and disciplinary settings.

(ii) Opportunities for teachers, administrators, pupils, other school staff, and members of the governing board or body of the local educational agency to review policies, practices, and procedures that can promote bias, such as referrals for discipline, special education, and course placement, and to update those policies, practices, and procedures to foster in pupils a sense of belonging and connection.

(iii) The development of a comprehensive diversity plan based on the identified needs of the local educational agency using its data and tied to specific outcomes, such as increasing staff diversity or more racially proportionate pupil discipline referrals.

(iv) Curriculum that is appropriate for pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, on topics that address hate, bigotry, racism, or any form of bias or prejudice.

(v) Support of pupil-initiated efforts to combat hate, bigotry, racism, or any form of bias or prejudice.

(C) Professional development and curriculum under this paragraph shall use evidence-based strategies, and may include, but are not limited to, those made available on the State Department of Education’s internet website.

(d) On or before September 1, 2022, the State Department of Education shall submit a report to the appropriate budget and policy committees of the Legislature regarding the awarding of Antibias Education Grant Program funds, including, but not limited to, the number of awards, the award recipients, the amount of each award, and how funds will be used.

(e) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(f) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2020–21 fiscal year, 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 of the Education Code, for the 2020–21 fiscal year.