AB 1600 Summary

• Establishes the College Readiness Block Grant program with $200 million in General Fund appropriations to provide high school pupils, particularly unduplicated pupils, with additional supports to increase college enrollment and completion rates.

• Restructures the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program (formerly paraprofessional program) with $20 million appropriated for 2016-17 through 2020-21 fiscal years, allowing grants up to $4,000 per participant per year for up to 1,000 new participants annually.

• Modifies child care reimbursement rates and regional market rate ceilings, increasing standard reimbursement rates from $9,572.50 to $10,529.75 effective January 1, 2017, and adjusting license-exempt provider reimbursement caps and market rate ceilings on phased timelines through 2018.

• Appropriates $218 million to offset the 2009-10 minimum funding obligation shortfall to school districts and community colleges, and $945.6 million to school districts and $105.5 million to community colleges for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

• Makes various supplemental appropriations totaling over $100 million for programs including foster youth services, charter school startup grants, school breakfast programs, drinking water improvements in schools, and professional development initiatives.