RELS (Statutes of 2023) - Legislative Report

Regional County Office of Education (COE) Regional English Learner Specialists (RELS) Program 2023 Legislative Report.

Report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Department of Finance: Regional County Office of Education English Learner Specialists

Executive Summary

This report is required by Senate Bill 101 (Chapter 12, Statutes of 2023), the Budget Act of 2023. The attached report provides an update regarding the activities of the Regional County Office of Education (COE) Regional English Learner Specialists (RELS).

During fall 2023, the California Department of Education (CDE), awarded a $2 million allocation to the 11 RELS. The 11 recipients are Sonoma COE, Butte COE, Sacramento COE, Contra Costa COE, Santa Clara COE, San Joaquin COE, Tulare COE, Kern COE, San Diego COE, Riverside COE, and Los Angeles COE. Throughout the 2023 and 2024 calendar years, these regional COEs have provided technical assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) on federal requirements related to English learners, and recommendations for best practices, instructional strategies, and improvement in English language proficiency and state academic standards, in a manner consistent with the statewide System of Support pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 52059.5) of Chapter 6.1 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of California Education Code (EC).

The Budget Act of 2023, Item 6100-125-0890, Provision 2, allocated $2 million of the funds appropriated in Schedule (3) to the 11 regional COEs. The CDE, in consultation with the State Board of Education, identified metrics to assess the performance of the regional COEs in performing the duties specified above. The CDE will reevaluate the metrics every five years. The CDE has also designated Riverside COE to be the RELS Liaison Agency, required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of EC Section 52073, to communicate on activities and outcomes for the 11 regional COEs.

This report covers the 2023–24 reporting period and is available on the CDE Educator Regional COE English Learner Specialists web page. If you have any questions or would like a copy of this report, please contact the CDE Language Policy and Leadership Office at LPLO@cde.ca.gov.

RELS 2023–24 Legislative Report: Report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Department of Finance: Regional County Office of Education English Learner Specialists (DOCX)

Questions: Language Policy and Leadership Office | LPLO@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0845

Last Reviewed: Wednesday, August 20, 2025

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