Section 60352.

A school district may apply to the state board for funding for the purchase of a complete set of core reading program instructional materials pursuant to this article.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), each school district shall expend funds received pursuant to this article for the sole purpose of purchasing core reading program instructional materials for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive, that meet the following requirements:

(1) The instructional materials have been adopted by the state board in 1996.

(2) The instructional materials meet the requirements of Section 60200.4.

(3) The instructional materials include, but are not necessarily limited to, phonemic awareness, systematic explicit phonics, and spelling patterns, accompanied by reading material that provides practice in the lesson being taught.

(b) A school district may expend up to 5 percent of the amounts received pursuant to this article to acquire independent reading books for pupils enrolled in grades 1 to 4, inclusive, for the purpose of stocking school or classroom libraries.

(c) Each school district that receives funds pursuant to this chapter shall purchase the core reading instructional materials on or before September 30, 1997, except that the state board may extend the last date to purchase materials to not later than September 30, 1998, if in a public hearing the governing board adopts a resolution requesting that extension and stating the reasons therefor. In granting a request for an extension pursuant to this subdivision, the state board shall prescribe the last date that core reading instructional materials may be purchased, but in no event shall the state board authorize a date of extension later than September 30, 1998. It is the intent of the Legislature that the state board authorize extensions to governing boards that have demonstrated that they are unable to meet the deadline set forth in this subdivision because of factors out of their control, including, but not limited to, insufficient time to evaluate and field test the state board-approved materials.

(d) If the governing board establishes, to the satisfaction of the state board, that the state-adopted instructional materials do not promote the maximum efficiency of pupil learning in the district, the state board shall authorize that governing board to use the funds received pursuant to this article to purchase instructional materials as specified by the state board, in accordance with standards and procedures established by the state board, and that meet the requirements of Section 60200.4 and include, but are not necessarily limited to, phonemic awareness, systematic explicit phonics, and spelling patterns, accompanied by reading material that provides practice in the lesson being taught. It is the intent of the Legislature that any request made by governing boards pursuant to this subdivision prior to August 31, 1996, be expedited by the state board.

(e) Each governing board shall certify to the State Department of Education that the amounts received pursuant to this chapter have been expended as required by this chapter. The governing board shall certify at a public hearing of the board that each pupil enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive, has been furnished a complete set of core reading program instructional materials that meets the requirements of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1158, Sec. 18. Effective September 30, 1996.)