Community-Based English Tutoring
1. What is the level of funding for 2008-09?
For fiscal year (FY) 2008-09, the Legislature proposed $43.5 million to support CBET programs. The funds will be distributed to participating local educational agencies (LEAs) based on the collective enrollment of English learners (ELs) in these LEAs, according to the spring 2008 Language Census (R-30). In the spring of 2007, there were 1,568,661 ELs enrolled in LEAs that participated in the CBET program. The result of this count was an allocation of $33.39 per pupil. The budget for FY 2008-09 is expected to provide a 10% reduction in funding.
2. What is the intent of the CBET program and how can the funds be used?
The legislature has declared that “the more a parent or guardian is involved in the education of his or her child the better the child will perform in school.” The intent of this program is to encourage adult student partnerships that result in raising the general level of English knowledge in the community. The purpose of the CBET funds is to provide free or subsidized adult English instruction to parents or other community members who pledge to provide English tutoring to California school children with limited English proficiency. According to regulations, these funds may be used for direct program services, community notification processes, transportation services, and automated records checks related to the tutoring program.
3. How long is this program going to be funded? Are funds guaranteed each year?
The initial statute required that the $50 million be allocated each year for ten years. This funding model was revised at the end of FY 2006-07 when Senate Bill (SB) 368 was approved in 2006 to extend CBET programs and support them pursuant to appropriation in the annual Budget Act. LEAs are cautioned that CBET program funds are not guaranteed from year to year. Annual apportionments are based on the enrollment of ELs that vary from year to year.
In order to secure an annual apportionment, an LEA must submit an application and abide by the provisions set forth by SB 368. Additionally, funding must be made available in the Budget Act and approved by the Legislature and the Governor. Therefore, while it is reasonable to expect that each participating LEA will continue to receive a CBET program apportionment, there is no guarantee. LEAs should be very cautious when entering into multiyear financial obligations. If CBET funds are not allocated, or not received in the amount expected, an LEA may need to obtain funds from other sources to cover existing financial obligations.
4. How will the CBET funds be allocated?
CBET funds will be apportioned by the California Department of Education (CDE) to LEAs through the treasurer’s office of each county office of education.
5. May CBET program funds be carried over from one school year to another?
Yes. CBET funds may be carried over from year to year until spent. Beginning with fiscal year 2007-08, carryover will be accounted for as restricted ending fund balance; it was previously accounted for as deferred revenue.
6. Will LEAs be required to submit any fiscal reports for the CBET program?
In an effort to reduce the reporting burden on LEAs, the CDE will no longer require expenditure reports for this program. Instead, the CDE will obtain expenditure information directly from the Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) system.
7. May CBET program funds be used in conjunction with other state and federal funding sources? How are the CBET program funds to be used in conjunction with adult education programs?
These funds may be used to develop new programs or to subsidize existing programs of English language instruction for parents, guardians, and other adult community members who pledge to tutor kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) EL students. Partnerships and collaborations with other programs that have similar purposes and goals are encouraged.
CBET program funds may be used to provide, in full or in part, adult English language development (ELD) classes provided through an adult education school. To generate average daily attendance (ADA) funds, the adult ELD classes must meet all of the specifications required of adult school programs. For additional information on adult school and ADA requirements, contact CDE's Adult Education Office at (916) 322-2175.
When adult ELD classes are funded in whole by the CBET program, all of the adult participants must pledge to tutor EL students. When the adult ELD classes are co-funded, then the proportion of students in class who must pledge to tutor must be the same proportion as the CBET program funds allocated to the class. For example, if an adult ELD class was funded 20 percent from CBET program funds and 80 percent by the Adult Education school funds, then 20 percent of the adult participants must pledge to tutor one or more K-12 EL students.
8. How do LEAs apply for CBET funds?
LEAs (school districts, county offices of education, or direct-funded charter schools) that enroll one or more EL students should submit an application by the specified date using the forms identified by the CDE. For FY 2008-09, the CDE disseminated the informational packets during January 2008.
9. Which agencies may provide CBET program services?
Whenever possible, LEAs should operate CBET programs at neighborhood school sites in order to provide full articulation between CBET programs and instructional programs for school-aged ELs. The LEA may provide CBET services directly (e.g. through adult education or family English literacy programs) or may subcontract with another LEA, community college or university, library literacy program, or community-based organization (CBO) that establishes partnerships to offer adult English instruction to parents, guardians, or other community members.
10. May CBET program funds be used for fingerprinting?
The LEA may use CBET funds to comply with locally approved policies, regarding automated records checks, set forth to assure the safety of students within the school setting.
11. What should a pledge card look like? What is the timeframe for pledges?
Pledge records should contain, at a minimum, the following information: name of the school district, name of the school, and name and signature of the parent, guardian, or community member who pledges to tutor ELs. The pledge process should take place during initial enrollment in the adult English language instructional program and tutoring activities should be provided to pupils within the same fiscal year as the pledge commitment. A pledge card template is available at the CBET Program Library.
12. May LEAs use CBET funds to purchase equipment, supplies, and other materials?
As long as the primary purpose of these items is to support CBET program activities, the funds may be used for reasonable purchases of these items.
13. May LEAs use CBET funds for administrative expenditures and indirect costs?
Yes. However, the CDE recommends that no more than 2 percent of the grant be used for administrative costs.
14. May the CBET funds be used for other program services and activities?
Yes, services and activities, such as teacher and instructional aide salaries, software, instructional materials, staff development, leasing of space, maintenance, field trips, mileage, program evaluation, babysitting, nutritional snacks, and other similar costs that are part of direct or supportive services of the CBET program, may be funded by the program.
15. Are there instructional offerings other than the adult English language instruction that may be supported by CBET funds?
The primary purpose of CBET funds is to train adult family members, or other adult community members, to provide personal English language tutoring activities to K-12 students with limited English proficiency. CBET funds may also be used to support related instruction associated with the goals of the program. For example, CBET participants may be provided with instruction in child tutoring skills or other adult subject matter classes when the primary purpose of the instruction is the promotion of English language for English learners.
16. What are the LEAs’ basic responsibilities for accounting for the CBET funds?
An LEA will be held accountable for spending funds as authorized in California Education Code (EC) sections 315-317 and California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 5, sections 11315 and 11315.5. The LEA is also responsible for keeping appropriate records of expenditures, maintaining pledge cards, and assessment data on tutored pupils and adult students. The LEA must also follow the instructions contained in the California School Accounting Manual.
17. The approval of SB 368 added new accountability provisions that must be met by school districts receiving CBET funds. What are they and how will these amendments affect our program?
As of FY 2007-08 and thereafter, CBET will be considered for funding approval during the annual Budget Act. Funded districts are required to develop a CBET implementation plan to be approved by their local governing board. The plan must be reviewed and revised, based on achievement information collected from adult and pupil participants, at least once every three years. For technical purposes a plan template is available at the CBET Program Library.
18. Which credentials authorize the holders to teach adult English as a second language (ESL) classes?
The following staff members may be assigned to teach adult ESL classes, including classes supported in whole or in part with CBET program funds:
- Any holder of a Crosscultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD)/ Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) certificate or equivalent credential (e.g., Language Development Specialist, Bilingual Emphasis, or Bilingual Certificate of Competence).
- Any holder of a General, Standard, or Ryan credential as long as the credential includes a CLAD/BCLAD emphasis or a designation authorizing adult ESL.
- Under EC Section 44865, a holder of any California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) teaching credential based on a bachelor’s degree, teacher preparation, and student teaching may be deemed qualified to teach adult ESL as long as the employing agency and teacher in question mutually agree to the assignment.
Questions regarding credential requirements and the application process may be directed to the CCTC at (888) 921-2682 or (916) 445-7254. You may also visit the CCTC Web site at http://www.ctc.ca.gov (outside source).
19. What services may the instructional aides provide in the adult English language instructional program?
Instructional aides may provide instructional support under the supervision of an authorized teacher.
20. May CBET funds be used to pay for direct tutoring services to school children that are ELs?
No. EC Section 315 states that CBET funds are appropriated for the purpose of providing programs of adult English language instruction to parents or other members of the community who pledge to provide personal English language tutoring to California school children with limited language proficiency. CBET plans should address guidance toward and support of opportunities for parent-child tutoring activities.
21. May facilities, equipment, and/or materials, which are leased or purchased with CBET funds, be used by programs other than CBET?
Yes, in certain circumstances. Facilities, equipment, and materials leased or purchased with CBET funds may, without constituting an improper expenditure, be used on a part-time basis. If the facilities, equipment, and/or materials can be made available for other programs without interfering with their use for the CBET program or significantly shortening their useful life, there is no objection to using the CBET facilities, equipment, and/or materials given the fact that they would otherwise be idle. This guidance is consistent with 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 80.32(c), which allows facilities, equipment, and materials to be made available for use in other projects and programs.
In cases where one or more programs use CBET facilities, equipment, and/or materials beyond the range of the guideline presented above, LEAs should consider co-funding the cost of the facilities, equipment, and/or materials so that each program contributes its fair share.
22. In determining CBET program funding, how is the R-30 data calculated in cases where an LEA sponsors one or more direct-funded charter schools?
By statute, direct-funded charter schools are authorized to independently administer some state and federal programs, including the CBET program, in the same manner as other LEAs. For the purpose of CBET program funding, the count of EL students enrolled in direct-funded charter schools is not aggregated to the sponsoring LEA’s count but instead will be reported separately for each direct-funded charter school. In these instances, educational services for EL students (and their families) enrolled in direct-funded charter schools are the exclusive responsibility of those charter schools.
23. What adult records and assessments are required to be maintained by districts qualifying for CBET funding?
CBET plans must address the manner and responsibility of the record keeping process. Adult records shall be collected and reviewed by CBET administrators and staff to assure that objectives identified in the CBET plan have successfully resulted in ELD improvement for all adult participants. Records shall also be collected regarding participation of adults in CBET training classes and the frequency of tutoring activities with K-12 ELs.
The regulations stipulate that adult assessments shall include a pre-test and post-test component and that it measure growth in English reading fluency. A standardized assessment instrument capable of producing reliable measurements in English language reading achievement is desirable when considering program revisions. A universal assessment method has not been specified for adult students. Many districts have chosen to administer the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) test; however, district level assessments that have been deemed appropriate for adult-aged students may also be used to meet this requirement.
24. What student records and assessments are required to be maintained by districts qualifying for CBET funding?
Student records shall be collected and reviewed to assure that objectives identified in the CBET plan have resulted in English language proficiency improvement of all student participants. Records shall be collected regarding frequency of adult/student tutoring activities and the improvement in daily school attendance of K-12 EL students receiving tutoring assistance from CBET trained adults.
Assessments for students have been identified as the California English Language Development Test and the Standardized Testing and Reporting assessments. CBET regulations stipulate that information from assessments be collected and reviewed by CBET administrators and staff to improve curriculum, instruction, assessment, research, in-service, staff development, and CBET plan revisions.
Participating school districts shall report the data to the state upon request. The state may use the data to evaluate the CBET program based on, but not limited to, a representative sampling of districts.
