Ed. Code, § 53009.1

(a) (1) The sum of three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department to augment the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program established in Sections 53008.5, 53008.7, and 53009. Funds appropriated for this purpose are available for encumbrance through June 30, 2031.

(2) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (1), one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies to supplement existing recipient funding pursuant to Section 53008.5 to extend the Literacy Coach and Reading Specialists Grant Program through June 30, 2031. For purposes of this paragraph, the definitions in subdivision (d) of Section 53008.5 shall apply.

(3) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (1), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies to supplement existing recipient funding pursuant to Section 53008.7 to extend the Literacy Coach and Reading Specialists Grant Program through June 30, 2031. For purposes of this paragraph, the definitions in subdivision (d) of Section 53008.7 shall apply.

(4) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (1), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies to supplement existing recipient funding pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 53009, to extend the Literacy Coach and Reading Specialists Grant Program through June 30, 2031. For purposes of this paragraph, the definitions in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 53009 shall apply.

(b) (1) Funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be used to develop and sustain school literacy programs, including English language development and dual language immersion programs, and other programs for multilingual learners.

(2) A local educational agency may opt not to participate in the grant extension pursuant to this section by informing the department, by September 30, 2026, using a form provided by the department, of the local educational agency’s intent to decline additional program funds for their eligible schoolsites and the local educational agency.

(A) A schoolsite that was awarded funding pursuant to Section 53008.5, 53008.7, or 53009 that has ceased operation by July 1, 2026, shall not be awarded additional funding under this section.

(B) A local educational agency that receives funding pursuant to this or other programs for multilingual learners, employs and develops literacy coaches and specialists, and develops and implements interventions for pupils in need of targeted literacy support may also be eligible for the Reading and Literacy Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program.

(3) The department shall allocate funding under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subdivision (a) proportionate to the grant amounts received by local educational agencies for each eligible schoolsite pursuant to Sections 53008.5, 53008.7, and 53009. For purposes of allocations and apportionments under this paragraph, a locally funded charter school shall be included with the chartering authority.

(4) A local educational agency receiving grant funding pursuant to subdivision (a) is encouraged to use these funds over the full grant period, through June 30, 2031.

(5) On or before June 30, 2031, a recipient local educational agency shall submit a report to the department detailing how it used funds awarded pursuant to subdivision (a) using a reporting template developed by the department for the purposes of this requirement. The report shall include all of the following:

(A) How funds were further used to employ literacy coaches and specialists for recipient schoolsites.

(B) How funds were used to develop, improve, and expand upon school literacy programs, including comprehensive English language development and dual language immersion programs, and other programs for multilingual learners.

(C) How expenditures impacted pupils’ literacy and biliteracy achievement, including achievement of high need pupil groups.

(D) How the local educational agency plans to continue to fund literacy coaches and reading and literacy and bilingual specialists past the award period.

(E) Other metrics as determined by the department.

(c) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.