54690.

 (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the partnership academies program has proven to be a highly effective state-school-private sector partnership, providing combined academic and career technical education to high school pupils who present a high risk of dropping out of school, and motivating those pupils to stay in school and graduate. Partnership academies are functioning in 290 high schools spread throughout the state, with career technical education successfully offered in 15 different industry sectors, including diverse skills such as electronics, computer technology, finance, agribusiness, media arts and communication, international business, health careers, and aerospace. The California partnership academies have been given high accolades in various textbooks and studies addressing career technical education programs.

(b) The Legislature finds the partnership academies are in the forefront of school efforts to integrate academic and career technical education and that they can be effective in providing an integrated learning program and high motivation toward pursuing skilled occupational fields to pupils at risk of dropping out of school and to pupils not motivated by the regular educational curriculum. Further, the Legislature finds the partnership academies can make a very positive contribution towards meeting the needs of the state for a highly skilled and educated workforce in the 21st century.

(c) Therefore, the Legislature hereby states its intent to expand the number of partnership academies in the high schools of the state, hereafter to be known as California Partnership Academies; to broaden the availability of these learning experiences to interested pupils; and to encourage the establishment of academies whose industry sectors address the needs of developing technologies.

(d) For purposes of this article, “at-risk” pupils means pupils enrolled in high school who are at risk of dropping out of school, as indicated by at least three of the following criteria:

(1) Past record of irregular attendance.

(2) Past record of underachievement in which the pupil is at least one year behind the coursework for the respective grade level.

(3) Past record of low motivation or a disinterest in the regular school program.

(4) Disadvantaged economically.

(e) The department may expend no more than five percent of the funds received to carry out this article on administrative expenses.

54691.

 The Superintendent shall issue grants, from the funds appropriated for this purpose in the annual Budget Act or other statute, to school districts maintaining high schools that meet the specifications of Section 54692, for purposes of establishing and maintaining academies, up to a maximum of 390 partnership academies by June 30, 2014, as follows:

(a) Commencing with the 2009–10 fiscal year, upon the appropriation of funds for purposes of this article in the annual Budget Act or other statute, the Superintendent shall issue a maximum of 20 new grants per year for purposes of implementing 390 partnership academies by the 2013–14 fiscal year. The Superintendent, when issuing the grants to school districts, shall ensure that the grants are equitably distributed among high-wealth and low-wealth school districts in urban, rural, and suburban areas.

(b) The Superintendent may issue grants each fiscal year for the implementation and maintenance of existing academies or academies implemented pursuant to subdivision (a). Implementation and maintenance grants shall be calculated in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) School districts operating academies may receive one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year for each qualified pupil enrolled in an academy during the first year of the operation of the academy, provided that no more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) may be granted to any one academy for the initial year.

(2) School districts operating academies may receive one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each qualified pupil enrolled in an academy during the second year of the operation of the academy, provided that no more than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) may be granted to any one academy for the second year.

(3) School districts operating academies may receive one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each qualified pupil enrolled in an academy during the third year of the operation of the academy, provided that no more than ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) may be granted to any one academy for each fiscal year.

(4) School districts operating academies may receive one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each qualified pupil enrolled in an academy during the fourth year of the operation of the academy, provided that no more than one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) may be granted to any one academy for each fiscal year if the academy enrolls and provides instruction to pupils in grade 9.

(c) Commencing with the 2008–09 fiscal year, upon the appropriation of funds for purposes of this article in the annual Budget Act or other statute, the Superintendent shall issue grants to 50 existing, new, or a combination of existing and new partnership academies each year for the instruction of pupils enrolled in grade 9.

(d) For purposes of this article, a qualified pupil is a pupil meeting the at-risk criteria specified in Section 54690 and who is enrolled in an academy for grade 9, 10, 11, or 12, obtains 90 percent of the credits each academic year in courses that are required for graduation, and does any of the following:

(1) Commencing with the 2008–09 fiscal year, pursuant to subdivision (c), successfully completes a school year during grade 9 with an attendance record of no less than 80 percent.

(2) Successfully completes a school year during grade 10 with an attendance record of no less than 80 percent.

(3) Successfully completes a school year during grade 11 with an attendance record of no less than 80 percent.

(4) Successfully graduates after grade 12.

A pupil enrolled in an academy who successfully completes only one semester with regard to enrollment, attendance, and credits within the school year is considered qualified for that semester and the school district may receive one-half of the funds specified under subdivision (b) for that pupil.

(e) (1) A school district operating an academy that is unable to enroll enough at-risk pupils, as defined in Section 54690, to constitute one-half of the participating pupils may enroll non-at-risk pupils who meet any of the following criteria:

(A) Scoring in the 40th percentile or below in mathematics or English language arts on the standardized test administered pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 60640) of Chapter 5 of Part 33.

(B) Maintaining a grade point average of 2.2 or below, or the equivalent of a C-.

(C) Fulfilling any of the actions described in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of subdivision (c) (d).

(2) Non-at-risk pupils enrolled pursuant to paragraph (1) may not exceed one-half of the pupils enrolled in an academy.

(f) At the end of each school year, school districts that have been approved to operate academies pursuant to this article shall certify the following information to the Superintendent:

(1) The operation of each academy in accordance with this article, including Sections 54692 and 54694.

(2) The number of qualified pupils enrolled during the just completed school year, by grade level, for each academy operated by the school district.

(3) The amount of required local funding and the dollar value of in-kind support made available to each academy in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 54692.

(g) The Superintendent shall adjust the amount of the grant to each school district in accordance with the certification made to him or her pursuant to subdivision (d) (f) or in accordance with any discrepancies to the certification that may be revealed by audit. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Superintendent may advance up to 50 percent of the funds as he or she deems appropriate to school districts that are approved to implement or operate partnership academies.

(h) Funds granted to school districts pursuant to this article may be expended without regard to fiscal year. However, the funds shall be expended for the maintenance and operation of academies.

54692.

 In order to be eligible to receive funding pursuant to this article, a school district shall provide all of the following:

(a) An amount equal to 100 percent of all funds received pursuant to this article in the form of direct and in-kind support provided by the district.

(b) An amount equal to 100 percent of all funds received pursuant to this article in the form of direct and in-kind support provided by participating companies or other private sector organizations.

(c) An assurance that state funds provided by the partnership academies program shall be used only for the implementation, operation, and support of partnership academies.

(d) An assurance that each academy will be established as a “school within a school.” Academy teachers shall work as a team in planning, teaching, and troubleshooting program activities. Classes in the academy program shall be limited to academy pupils. Each participating school district shall establish an advisory committee consisting of individuals involved in academy operations, including school district and school administrators, lead teachers, and representatives of the private sector.

(e) An assurance that each academy pupil will be provided with the following:

(1) Instruction in at least one academic subject in grade 9 each regular school term and three academic subjects in grades 10 and 11 each regular school term that prepares the pupil for a regular high school diploma. These subjects should contribute to an understanding of the industry sector of the academy.

(2) A career technical class related to the industry sector of the academy each regular school term.

(3) A class schedule that limits the attendance to the classes required in paragraphs (1) and (2) to pupils of the academy. Whenever possible, these classes should be block scheduled in a cluster to provide flexibility to academy teachers. During grade 12 the number of academic classes may vary.

(4) A mentor from the business community during the grade 10 or 11 year of the pupil.

(5) An internship or paid job related to the industry sector of the academy or work experience to improve employment skills following grade 11. A pupil who is required to attend summer school for purposes of completing graduation requirements is exempt from this paragraph.

(6) Additional motivational activities with private sector involvement to encourage academic and occupational preparation.

(f) An assurance that academy teachers have a common planning period to interchange pupil and educational information. Whenever practical, the planning period should be in addition to the normal planning period for full-time teachers and be supported as a part of the local funding provided by the district pursuant to subdivision (a).

54695.

 (a) The grade 8 or 9 teachers and counselors in schools maintained by school districts approved to operate academies pursuant to this article shall identify pupils eligible to participate in an academy.

(b) Partnership academy teachers and counselors in schools maintained by school districts approved to operate academies pursuant to this article, business representatives of academy business partners, and pupils of academies that are operating in the area shall be encouraged to make presentations to prospective pupils and their parents or legal guardians.

(c) The staff of each academy shall select pupils from among those who have expressed an interest in the academy and whose parents or legal guardians have approved the participation of the pupil.