(a) Between July 1, 1999, and June 30, 2000, a school district may notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction that it plans to implement, commencing July 1, 2000, a Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers pursuant to this article. Upon receipt of the notification by the school district, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall apportion to the school district two thousand eight hundred dollars ($2,800) or an amount equal to the number of mentor teachers that the state calculated the school district is entitled to in the 1999–2000 fiscal year pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 44490) multiplied by two thousand eight hundred dollars ($2,800), whichever is greater.

(b) A school district that notifies the Superintendent of Public Instruction that it plans to implement a Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers by July 1, 2000, pursuant to subdivision (a), shall certify to the Superintendent of Public Instruction that it has implemented a program by August 1, 2000. In addition to the certification, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may request a copy of the signature page of the collective bargaining agreement implementing the program required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 44503. A school district that fails to provide the required certification is not eligible to receive an apportionment for the Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section or subdivision (a) of Section 44498 in the 2000–01 school year, or in any year thereafter. The school district, however, may be eligible to receive an apportionment for the Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section and subdivision (a) of Section 44498 in the 2000–01 school year, and in each year thereafter, if the school district complies with the requirements set forth in subdivisions (c) and (d).

(c) Between July 1, 2000, and May 31, 2001, a school district may notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction that it plans to implement, commencing July 1, 2001, a Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers pursuant to this article. On or before June 29, 2001, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall apportion to every school district that provides this notification an amount equal to the number of mentor teachers that the state calculated the school district is entitled to in the 1999–2000 school year pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 44490) times a maximum of one thousand dollars ($1,000). Any school district that provides this notification shall receive at least the amount that would be received pursuant to this section by a school district with one state funded mentor in the 2000–01 school year pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 44490).

(d) A school district that notifies the Superintendent of Public Instruction that it plans to implement a Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers by July 1, 2001, pursuant to subdivision (c), shall certify to the Superintendent of Public Instruction that it has implemented a program by July 1, 2001. In addition to the certification, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may request a copy of the signature page of the collective bargaining agreement implementing the program required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 44503. A school district that fails to provide the required certification is not eligible for any apportionment for the Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers received pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section, and subdivision (a) of Section 44498 in the 2001–02 school year, or in any year thereafter.

(e) The funding provided pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (c) of this section and subdivision (a) of Section 44498 shall be provided to eligible school districts in each year that the school operates a Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers.

(f) The maximum amount of funds available for apportionment to school districts by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for allocation pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be the amount appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 6 of the act adding this section, minus any funds apportioned by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to school districts pursuant to subdivision (a) as of June 30, 2000.

(g) A school district may use funds apportioned pursuant to this section for activities necessary to implement the Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 552, Sec. 16. Effective January 1, 2004.)