The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Classified school employees play a vital role in the education of our pupils and students in our public schools and community colleges. They do the essential work that keeps our campuses safe, clean, and well maintained so that our pupils and students can get to school, focus on learning, and succeed at their highest levels.
(b) Because classified school employees are on the front lines working to ensure the safety and care of pupils and students on our campuses, they need professional development and training to update their skills and to learn the best practices for vital education programs, including campus safety, academic achievement and curriculum standards, special education, health care, child nutrition, pupil transportation, environmental safety, and parental involvement.
(c) Teachers and administrators serving pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, play vital roles in supporting a pupil’s ability to achieve academically, and providing professional development training to teachers and administrators is essential to this goal.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 723, Sec. 1. (SB 590) Effective January 1, 2014.)