(a) If the governing board of a school district requests technical assistance, the county superintendent of schools shall provide technical assistance consistent with paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (c). If a school district has not been identified for technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (c) or for state intervention pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 52072, and if the service requested creates an unreasonable or untenable cost burden for the county superintendent of schools, the county superintendent of schools may assess the school district a fee not to exceed the cost of the service.

(b) If a county superintendent of schools does not approve a local control and accountability plan or annual update to the local control and accountability plan approved by a governing board of a school district, the county superintendent of schools shall provide technical assistance focused on revising the local control and accountability plan or annual update so that it can be approved.

(c) (1) For any school district for which one or more pupil subgroups identified pursuant to Section 52052 meets the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52064.5, the county superintendent of schools shall provide technical assistance for a minimum of two years following the identification that shall be focused on building the school district’s capacity to develop and implement actions and services responsive to pupil and community needs, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(A) Assisting the school district to do each of the following:

(i) Identify its strengths and weaknesses in regard to the state priorities described in subdivision (d) of Section 52060. This shall include working collaboratively with the school district to review performance data on the state and local indicators included in the California School Dashboard authorized by subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5, including educator qualifications data and relevant local data to identify effective, evidence-based programs or practices that address any areas of weakness.

(ii) Identify pupil subgroups that are low performing or experiencing significant disparities from other pupil subgroups as identified on the California School Dashboard. The county superintendent of schools may consult equity leads pursuant to Section 52073.5 to identify and implement effective programs and practices to improve the outcomes and opportunities for low-performing pupil subgroups or pupil subgroups experiencing significant disparities from other pupil subgroups.

(B) Working collaboratively with the school district to secure assistance from an academic, programmatic, or fiscal expert or team of experts to identify and implement effective programs and practices that are designed to improve performance in any areas of weakness identified by the school district. The county superintendent of schools, in consultation with the school district, may solicit another service provider, which may include, but is not limited to, a school district, county office of education, or charter school, to act as a partner to the school district in need of technical assistance.

(C) Obtaining from the school district timely documentation demonstrating that it has completed the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), or substantially similar activities, or has selected another service provider pursuant to subdivision (f) to work with the school district to complete the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), or substantially similar activities, and ongoing communication with the school district to assess the school district’s progress in improving pupil outcomes.

(D) Requesting that the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence provide advice and assistance to the school district, pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52074.

(E) A review of the school district’s local control and accountability plan to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in the identified goals, actions, and services, with a particular focus on those areas considered to be contributing toward meeting the increased or improved services requirement and all required goals.

(2) For any school district that fails to meet the requirements of Section 60900, the county superintendent of schools shall provide technical assistance focused on the school district’s data management processes and building the school district’s capacity to develop and implement actions and services responsive to pupil and community needs, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(A) Assisting the school district to identify its strengths and weaknesses in regard to the state priorities described in subdivision (d) of Section 52060. This shall include working collaboratively with the school district to review performance data on the state and local indicators included in the California School Dashboard authorized by subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5, including educator qualifications data and relevant local data to identify effective, evidence-based programs or practices that address any areas of weakness.

(B) Working collaboratively with the school district to secure assistance from an academic, programmatic, or fiscal expert or team of experts to identify and implement effective programs and practices that are designed to improve performance in any areas of weakness identified by the school district. The county superintendent of schools, in consultation with the school district, may solicit another service provider, which may include, but is not limited to, a school district, county office of education, or charter school, to act as a partner to the school district in need of technical assistance.

(C) Obtaining from the school district timely documentation demonstrating that it has completed the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), or substantially similar activities, or has selected another service provider pursuant to subdivision (f) to work with the school district to complete the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), or substantially similar activities, and ongoing communication with the school district to assess the school district’s progress in improving pupil outcomes.

(D) Requesting that the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence provide advice and assistance to the school district, pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52074.

(E) A review of the school district’s local control and accountability plan to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in the identified goals, actions, and services, with a particular focus on those areas considered to be contributing toward meeting the increased or improved services requirement and all required goals.

(F) A review of the school district’s data management policies and collection and submission processes, including monitoring and oversight of the student information system, to ensure the submission of accurate data according to the processes and timelines established by the department pursuant to Section 60900.

(d) Upon request of a county superintendent of schools or a school district, a geographic lead agency identified pursuant to Section 52073 may provide technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (c). A geographic lead agency identified pursuant to Section 52073 may request that another geographic lead agency, an expert lead agency identified pursuant to Section 52073.1, a special education resource lead identified pursuant to Section 52073.2, or the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence provide the assistance described in this subdivision.

(e) A school district shall accept the technical assistance provided by the county superintendent of schools pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c). For purposes of accepting technical assistance provided by the county superintendent of schools pursuant to subdivision (c), a school district may satisfy this requirement by providing the timely documentation to, and maintaining regular communication with, the county superintendent of schools as specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c).

(f) For any school district in which one or more pupil subgroups, identified pursuant to Section 52052, meets the criteria pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52064.5 for three or more consecutive years, the school district’s geographic lead agency, identified pursuant to Section 52073, shall, in collaboration with the county superintendent of schools, provide technical assistance to the school district pursuant to subdivision (c). The geographic lead agency shall evaluate whether the assistance of one or more expert lead agencies should be consulted as part of the technical assistance process.

(g) This section shall not preclude a school district from soliciting technical assistance from entities other than its county superintendent of schools at its own cost.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 48, Sec. 70. (SB 114) Effective July 10, 2023.)