Should the Commission authorize the Executive Director to enter into a contract with a qualifying entity for the presentation of the POST Quality Assessment Program (QAP) in an amount not to exceed $205,700.00?

If the Commission concurs, the appropriate action would be a MOTION to approve the contract as enumerated in this report.

One of the most compelling challenges for POST is to assess how effective training is for the student, and specifically whether the curriculum enhances student performance, competency, and service. Additionally, it is critical to audit training to ensure it confirms with the content and delivery method previously reviewed and certified by POST. This was previously reinforced by the Commission when it expressed a desire to ensure the return on investment to law enforcement was being realized through meaningful training. Furthermore, in testimony before the Senate Budget Committee in 2018, the Legislature emphasized to POST staff the need for POST to scrutinize training material being delivered to POST agencies.

The QAP measures law enforcement instructor and course quality, evaluates instructor use of adult learning methods and techniques, reviews course documentation, and ensures the quality of POST-certified training courses. Furthermore, the QAP identifies regulatory compliance deficiencies, as well as non-compliance to agreed upon POST-approved budgets for the charging of tuition.

If an assessment reveals a weakness in the curriculum or facilitation skills, the QAP Curriculum/Facilitation Coach services will be offered to the presenter. Identified weaknesses which are not deemed to be compliance issues are provided to the presenter in writing, as non-mandated recommendations on the best ways to improve the training.  The QAP Curriculum/Facilitation Coach will help develop, in writing, a more robust curriculum or enhance classroom environment management and facilitation skills. In conjunction with the presenter and facilitators, these coaches will complete a Curriculum and Facilitation Development Plan, which clearly establishes jointly agreed-upon desired outcomes and provides a step-by-step outline of how these goals will be accomplished. Coaches will make themselves available as plan goals are accomplished to provide further advice and make revisions as necessary.

If an assessment reveals non-compliance with Commission Regulation(s), significant deviation from the POST-certified training outline, or non-compliance to the POST-approved budget, etc., those findings are provided by POST to the presenter in writing.  The presenter is directed to answer the findings and corrective actions to be taken in a written response to POST. Upon receipt of the presenter response, POST makes a determination whether the response is sufficient, whether additional monitoring is necessary, or whether the course should be de-certified or put into modification (pending inactive status).

In FY 2019/20, despite 36 courses being canceled, predominantly due to the COVID Pandemic and wildfires, POST QAP auditors evaluated 85 courses and 248 instructors.

The FY 2020/21 contract was originally set to expire on June 30, 2021. The contract, however, was amended to extend the expiration date, not the overall contract amount, to December 31, 2021. Therefore, POST continues to operate under the FY 2020/21 contract. 

Under the existing FY 2020/21 contract, POST QAP auditors have thus far evaluated 77 courses and 155 instructors.

Maximum budget expenditures and details are described in Attachment A and Attachment B.

The proposed budget request authority decreased from the previous fiscal year, and reflects staff's anticipated actual expenditures from January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. As noted above, the reduced expenditures and shortened time frame is due to the FY 2020/21 contract extension through December 31, 2021.