School accountability: Office of the Education Inspector General: school financial and performance audits: charter school authorization, oversight, funding, operations, networks, and contracting: data systems: local educational agency contractor background checks.

Assembly Members Muratsuchi and Garcia's comprehensive education accountability legislation establishes new oversight mechanisms and strengthens existing controls across California's education system. The bill creates the Office of the Education Inspector General to conduct audits and investigations of local educational agencies while implementing uniform standards for charter school authorization and financial reporting.

The legislation mandates enhanced audit procedures and reporting requirements for all local educational agencies. Charter schools must follow the same financial reporting standards as school districts, with implementation phased in based on enrollment size between 2026 and 2029. The bill requires charter schools to obtain governing body approval for contracts and prohibits certain funding practices, including allocating discretionary educational enrichment funds to parents.

To improve charter school oversight, the measure establishes the Charter Authorizing Support Team program to develop consistent authorization practices statewide. The program includes an advisory board comprising education stakeholders to guide policy development. The bill also restricts small school districts from authorizing nonclassroom-based charter schools if doing so would exceed the district's average daily attendance.

The legislation requires the Department of Education to integrate its longitudinal student achievement database with attendance reporting systems by 2030 to enhance monitoring capabilities. It also expands background check requirements for contractors working with local educational agencies and extends public contracting requirements to charter schools.

For nonclassroom-based charter schools, the bill implements new funding determination criteria and oversight mechanisms, including requirements for schools operating as networks. These provisions aim to ensure appropriate use of public funds while maintaining educational quality.