Section 11500.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Despite a substantial increase in school funding over the last five years, a significant percentage of the school-aged population, particularly in large urban areas, is learning well below the statewide average and is making only marginal progress at best.

(b) Parental involvement and support in the education of children is an integral part of improving academic achievement. Educational research has established that properly constructed parent involvement programs can play an important and effective role in the participation of parents in their children's schools and in raising pupil achievement levels.

(c) The federal government has recognized the critical role of parents in the educational process and now mandates parental involvement programs as a condition of eligibility for funds under the Augustus F. Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments of 1988 (P.L. 100-297).

(d) The State Board of Education has also adopted a policy urging the creation of parent involvement programs in all schools.

(e) California's School Improvement Program has historically maintained parent involvement as one of its component parts.

(f) Research and experience have demonstrated that these programs succeed only when certain components are made part of the program.

(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1400, Sec. 1.)