(a) The California Serves Program is hereby established under the administration of the department, in collaboration with CaliforniaVolunteers, for purposes of promoting access to effective service learning for pupils in grade 12 who are enrolled at participating local educational agencies, with the goal of expanding access for high school graduates in obtaining a State Seal of Civic Engagement through service learning. (b) The department, in partnership with CaliforniaVolunteers, shall do all of the following: (1) Review the available evidence on ways to incorporate effective service learning for pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, and, on or before January 1, 2024, provide recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code and consistent with the recommended criteria and implementation guidance for the State Seal of Civic Engagement pursuant to this article, on evidence-based strategies to expand access to high-quality service learning programs in California high schools and promote equitable access to these programs. (2) On or before January 1, 2024, develop and post on the departmentâs and CaliforniaVolunteersâ internet websites evidence-based strategies for expanding access to high-quality service learning programs that may be used by teachers and local educational agencies. (3) Develop model uniform metrics, based on the recommended criteria for the State Seal of Civic Engagement, for the measurement of pupil progress toward academic, civic engagement, and other learning objectives. Civic learning objectives shall include the final goal of awarding of the State Seal of Civic Engagement pursuant to this article. (4) Use the evidence, recommendations, and metrics identified pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, in the administration of the California Serves Program. (c) (1) Commencing with the 2022â23 fiscal year, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) is hereby appropriated, each fiscal year, from the General Fund to the department for annual awards to local educational agencies for California Serves Program grants pursuant to this section. (2) The department, in collaboration with CaliforniaVolunteers, shall establish the California Serves Program grant program, develop criteria for the awarding of grants and an application process, request necessary data from participating local educational agencies, and award grants consistent with this section. (d) In order for a local educational agency to be eligible for a grant under this section, at least 55 percent of the pupils enrolled in the applicant local educational agency shall be unduplicated pupils as defined in Section 2574 or 42238.02, as applicable. (e) Eligible local educational agencies who receive grants pursuant to this grant program shall receive an amount of up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) annually. (f) Allowable uses for funding allocated pursuant to this grant program include all of the following: (1) Paid planning time for teachers to increase the use of service learning in their instruction. (2) Professional development for school and local educational agency administrators and classroom teachers on service learning. (3) Purchase of instructional materials to aid in the use of service learning in instruction. (4) Participation costs of pupils and school personnel, including any materials or travel expenses related to service learning activities. (5) Personnel costs for coordination of service learning at a local educational agency or a schoolsite of a local educational agency. (6) Participation costs associated with grant program evaluation. (g) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, on or before November 5, 2024, and annually thereafter, the department, in partnership with CaliforniaVolunteers, shall submit a report on the program to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code. The report shall in
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