Ed. Code, § 52073.1

(a) Subject to an appropriation included in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, the department and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence may establish a process, administered by the department, to select, subject to approval by the executive director of the state board, an expert lead agency based on specific expertise in an area of need to conduct activities and build statewide capacity to address that area of need within the statewide system of support.

(b) The process for selecting an expert lead agency pursuant to this section shall ensure, at a minimum, that the expert lead agency demonstrate the ability to coordinate and calibrate assistance and support provided based on the specific expertise in an area of need with geographic lead agencies, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, and the department, and, as appropriate, that the expert lead agency demonstrates the ability to provide assistance on improving pupil performance and closing achievement gaps for pupil subgroups identified pursuant to Section 52052 in the specific area of statewide need.

(c) In selecting an expert lead agency pursuant to this section, the department and California Collaborative for Educational Excellence may select a county office of education serving as a geographic lead agency pursuant to Section 52073 or another local educational agency.

(d) Selection of an expert lead agency pursuant to this section shall be in addition to the limitation on the number of geographic lead agencies specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 52073.