Section 42920.

(a) The Legislature finds as follows:

(1) It is essential to recognize, identify and plan for the critical and unique needs of children residing in licensed community care facilities.

(2) A high percentage of these foster children are working substantially below grade level, are being retained at least one year in the same grade level, and become school dropouts.

(3) Without programs specifically designed to meet their individual needs, foster children are frequently dysfunctional human beings at great penal and welfare costs.

(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the instruction, counseling, tutoring, and related services for foster children that provide program effectiveness and potential cost savings shall be a state priority. Funding for that purpose is hereby provided to the following unified school districts and consortia that have successfully operated foster children services program sites: Elk Grove, Mount Diablo, Sacramento City, San Juan, and Paramount, and the Placer-Nevada consortium.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 530, Sec. 17. Effective January 1, 1996.)