(a) In the administration of the Cal-SAFE program, the following provisions apply:

(1) Participation by a school district or county superintendent of schools in the Cal-SAFE program is voluntary.

(2) The governing board of a school district or county superintendent of schools may submit an application to the State Department of Education in the manner, form, and by the date specified by the department to establish and maintain a Cal-SAFE program.

(3) A school district or county superintendent of schools approved to implement the Cal-SAFE program shall be funded as one program to be operated at one or multiple sites depending upon the need within the service area.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district or county superintendent of schools operating, by October 1, 1999, a School Age Parent and Infant Development Program pursuant to Article 17 (commencing with Section 8390) of Chapter 2 of Part 6, a Pregnant Minors Program pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 8900) of Part 6 and Section 2551.3, or a Pregnant and Lactating Students Program pursuant to Sections 49553 and 49559, as those provisions existed prior to January 1, 1999, or any combination thereof, that chooses to participate in the Cal-SAFE program shall have priority for Cal-SAFE program funding for an amount up to the dollar amount provided to each school district or county superintendent of schools under those provisions in the fiscal year prior to participation in the Cal-SAFE program, provided that an application is submitted and approved.

(5) If a school district or county superintendent of schools operating a School Age Parent and Infant Development Program, a Pregnant Minors Program, or a Pregnant and Lactating Students Program, or any combination thereof, chooses not to participate in the Cal-SAFE program, it is the intent of the Legislature that the funding it would have received for the operation of those programs shall be redirected to the Cal-SAFE program and the school district or county superintendent of schools may apply in a subsequent school year to operate a Cal-SAFE program.

(6) A school district or county superintendent of schools that terminates its Cal-SAFE program may reapply to establish a Cal-SAFE program.

(7) In order to continue implementation of the Cal-SAFE program beyond the initial three years of funding, each funded agency shall be reviewed by the department to determine progress towards achieving the goals set forth in Section 54742. Thereafter, funded agencies shall be reviewed and reauthorized every five years based upon a process determined by the department to continue implementation of a Cal-SAFE program.

(b) All of the following requirements apply to an application for the Cal-SAFE program:

(1) The governing board of a participating local education agency shall adopt a policy or resolution declaring its commitment to provide a comprehensive, continuous, community-linked program for expectant and parenting pupils and their children that reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community.

(2) The local education agency shall provide assurance for participation in the development of the County Service Coordination Plan as described in Section 54744.

(3) A school district or county superintendent of schools shall agree to participate in the data collection and evaluation of the Cal-SAFE program.

(c) To implement a Cal-SAFE program, the funded school district, or county superintendent of schools shall meet all of the following criteria:

(1) Be in compliance with the regulations adopted pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

(2) Ensure that enrolled pupils retain their right to participate in any comprehensive school or educational alternative programs in which they could otherwise enroll. School placement and instructional strategies shall be based upon the needs and styles of learning of the individual pupils. The classroom setting shall be the preferred instructional strategy unless an alternative is necessary to meet the needs of the individual parent, child, or both.

(3) Enroll pupils into the Cal-SAFE program on an open entry and open exit basis.

(4) Provide a quality education program to pupils in a supportive and accommodating learning environment with appropriate classroom strategies to ensure school access and academic credit for all work completed.

(5) Provide parenting education and life skills instruction to enrolled pupils.

(6) Make maximum utilization of available programs and facilities to serve expectant and parenting pupils and their children.

(7) Provide a quality child care and development program for the children of enrolled teen parents located on or near the schoolsite.

(8) Make maximum utilization of its local school food service program.

(9) Provide special school nutrition supplements, as defined by subdivision (b) of Section 49553, to pregnant and lactating pupils.

(10) Enter into formal partnership agreements, as necessary, with community-based organizations and other governmental agencies to assist pupils in accessing support services or to provide child care and development services.

(11) Provide staff development and community outreach in order to establish a positive learning environment and school policies supportive of expectant and parenting pupils’ academic achievement and to promote the healthy development of their children.

(12) Maintain an annual program budget and expenditure report to document that funds are expended pursuant to Section 54749.

(13) Assess no fees to enrolled pupils or their families for services provided through the Cal-SAFE program.

(14) Establish and maintain a database in the manner and form prescribed by the State Department of Education for purposes of program evaluation.

(15) Coordinate to the maximum extent possible with Cal-Learn program case managers provided pursuant to Section 11332.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and Adolescent Family Life Program case managers provided pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 124175) of Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 523, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)