CA SB858

Establishes Early Learning Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) block grants for local consortia to support low-income children in high-quality preschool programs, with allocations based on state preschool program slots.

Increases child care reimbursement rates from $3,523 to $9,024.75 per unit of average daily enrollment for a 250-day year, commencing with 2015-16 fiscal year cost-of-living adjustments, and eliminates family fees for part-day state preschool programs.

Changes charter school criteria for awarding expansion funding to prioritize full-day, full-year services for all income-eligible four-year-olds and authorizes family child care home education networks to apply for expansion funding.

Authorizes new independent study courses for kindergarten through grade 12 starting 2015-16 school year with requirements for certificated teacher supervision, in-person communication twice monthly, and proctor-administered examinations.

Appropriates $287.149 million to school districts and $49.5 million to community colleges for one-time purposes including professional development, instructional materials, and technology infrastructure to support implementation of Common Core and Next Generation Science standards.