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Bill

SB 1378

California Excellence in Service Learning Designation Program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh

SB 1378 creates a statewide designation recognizing K-12 and higher ed institutions that meet standards for high-quality service-learning, with criteria, applications, and ongoing

Referred to Com. on ED.
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Bill Summary · SB 1378

Summary of SB 1378 (California, 2025-2026)

Purpose and intent

SB 1378 establishes and designates a statewide program called the California Excellence in Service Learning Designation Program. The bill aims to recognize California K-12 and higher education institutions that demonstrate exemplary service-learning practices, integrating civic engagement and community-based learning into curricula and school culture. The designation is intended to promote high-quality service learning, share best practices, and encourage broader adoption across schools and districts.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of the designation program: Creates a formal recognition program to identify and award schools, districts, or institutions that meet defined criteria for service learning.
  • Eligibility criteria (design and implementation standards): Sets standards for what constitutes high-quality service-learning experiences, including alignment with academic objectives, structured reflection, meaningful community partnerships, and measurable student learning outcomes.
  • Application and review process: Creates an application pathway for institutions seeking designation, including criteria assessment, documentation requirements, and a review mechanism.
  • Designation benefits and recognition: Defines the scope of recognition (potentially including branding, public acknowledgment, and eligibility for certain supports or funding opportunities). The exact scope of benefits would be described in the bill’s provisions.
  • Oversight and reporting: Establishes reporting requirements to track which institutions earn the designation and to monitor ongoing compliance with program standards.
  • Implementation timeline: Sets milestones for rolling out the program, including deadlines for applications, designation cycles, and potential renewal or reevaluation processes.
  • Sunset/renewal provisions: The bill may specify whether designees must renew status and how renewal is determined, though specific language would be in the bill text.
  • Relationship to existing programs: Clarifies how this designation interacts with or complements other state initiatives related to service learning, civic education, or community engagement.

Who would be affected

  • Educational institutions: K-12 school districts, charter schools, and potentially higher education campuses that implement and participate in service-learning activities.
  • Students and communities: Students engaging in service-learning experiences and the communities that partner with schools to provide service opportunities.
  • State education agencies: Agencies responsible for administering the program, evaluating applications, and awarding designation.
  • Educators and administrators: Teachers, principals, and program coordinators involved in designing, implementing, and reporting on service-learning activities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status and steps in the legislative process: The bill has progressed through multiple committee stages, including:
    • Referred to the Committee on Education (ED)
    • Passed the Assembly floor and moved to the Senate (as indicated by earlier action history)
    • Adopted amendments in committee and on the suspense/APPR process
    • Final approvals and readiness for transmission between chambers (as of the latest action, it was referred to the Committee on Education in the Senate)
  • Hearing and consideration schedule: The bill has had several hearings and amendments, with key dates showing consideration in committees and on floors, leading to third-reading passage in the Senate and transmission to the Assembly, indicating active pursuit of final legislative action.
  • Sponsors: Co-sponsor includes Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, indicating bipartisan or cross-chamber support at sponsor level.

Potential impact and implementation notes

  • The designation could incentivize schools to invest in service-learning design, partnerships with community organizations, and robust reflection and assessment practices.
  • By standardizing criteria, the program may raise overall quality of service-learning experiences and enable best-practice sharing across districts.
  • The program’s success will depend on the specificity of criteria, the resources allocated for administration, and the sustainability of funding or supports tied to designation (if any).

Note: The summary reflects the bill’s stated purpose and provisions as described in the available action history and title. For precise statutory language, criteria details, funding provisions, and administrative structure, the full text of SB 1378 should be consulted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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