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SB-281 Career technical education: expansion: local advisory committees.(2011-2012)

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SB281:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2011–2012 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 281

Introduced  by  Senator Wyland

February 14, 2011

An act to amend Section 8070 of, and to add Section 52499.67 to, the Education Code, relating to career technical education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 281, as introduced, Wyland. Career technical education: expansion: local advisory committees.
(1) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a high school district, the governing board of a joint powers regional occupational center or program, or the county superintendent of schools that conducts any county-operated regional occupational center or program, to establish and maintain, in connection with a high school or regional occupational center or program under its or his or her jurisdiction, cooperative career technical education programs or community classrooms as part of a career technical education course in accordance with prescribed rules and regulations.
This bill would state findings and declarations of the Legislature regarding the need for career technical education programs, and would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to consider ways to expand career technical education programs in middle and high schools in the state.
(2) Existing law requires the governing board of each school district participating in a career technical education program to appoint a career technical education advisory committee to develop recommendations on the program and to provide liaison between the district and potential employers. The committee is required to consist of specified representatives.
This bill would require that the committee include members of labor and trade organizations and additional representatives, from various career technical education industry sectors, recommended by local industry organizations, except as specified. By requiring the governing board of a school district to work with industry organizations to reconstitute the membership of that committee in order to continue participating in a career technical education program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The economic future of California depends on a workforce ready to fill hundreds of thousands of jobs in a variety of fields, from construction to computer technology to health care.
(b) California is not graduating pupils with the necessary skills or training to enter into the various fields described in subdivision (a).
(c) California high schools have an unacceptable rate of pupils who do not graduate.
(d) Up to 70 percent of jobs require basic skills and often postsecondary training, but do not require a college degree.
(e) All young people deserve the opportunity to believe in themselves as significant and important additions to our society and economy.
(f) The lack of opportunities for high school pupils to be exposed to career technical education has contributed to the problems described in subdivisions (b) and (c).

SEC. 2.

 Section 8070 of the Education Code is amended to read:

8070.
 (a) The governing board of each school district participating in a career technical education program shall establish and appoint a career technical education advisory committee to develop recommendations on the program and to provide liaison between the district and potential employers.
(b) The committee shall consist of include one or more representatives of the general public knowledgeable about the disadvantaged, students pupils, teachers, business, industry, school administration, and the field office of the Department of Employment Development, and members of labor and trade organizations, who shall be appointed by the governing board of the school district.
(c) The committee also shall include representatives of career technical education industry sectors who shall be appointed by the governing board of the school district from lists of recommended individuals provided by the applicable local industry organizations pursuant to paragraph (2).
(1) Based on the needs of the school district, the governing board of the school district shall select at least five of the following career technical education industry sectors to be represented on the committee:
(A) Agriculture and natural resources.
(B) Building trades and construction. If the governing board of the school district selects this sector for representation on the committee, there shall be at least two representatives of this industry sector appointed to the committee.
(C) Finance and business.
(D) Health science and medical technology.
(E) Manufacturing and product development.
(F) Transportation, with a focus on the automotive industry.
(G) Arts, media, and entertainment.
(H) Education, child development, and family services.
(I) Energy and utilities.
(J) Engineering and design.
(K) Fashion and interior design.
(L) Hospitality, tourism, and recreation.
(M) Information technology.
(N) Marketing, sales, and service.
(O) Public services.
(P) Goods movement.
(2) Local industry organizations representing the industry sectors selected by the governing board of the school district pursuant to paragraph (1) shall provide lists of individuals that the organizations recommend to serve on the committee as representatives of the respective industry sectors. An industry organization may provide a list of recommended individuals only for an industry sector that it represents.
(d) If a school district demonstrates that it is unable to find representatives from the industry sectors set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), that school district may waive the requirements of subdivision (c). If a school district waives the requirements of subdivision (c), that school district may appoint representatives from other industry sectors as potential employer liaisons pursuant to subdivision (a).

SEC. 3.

 Section 52499.67 is added to the Education Code, to read:

52499.67.
 The Superintendent and the state board shall consider ways to expand career technical education in middle and high schools in California, including any of the following:
(a) Seeking public-private partnerships to provide facilities and equipment for career technical courses.
(b) Incorporating career technical courses in standard high school curriculum.
(c) Allowing high schools to include a significant number of career technical courses in their requirements for graduation.
(d) Developing extensive curriculum frameworks, guidelines, and instructional materials for the courses described in subdivisions (b) and (c).
(e) Creating robust district advisory committees to assist in planning for career technical courses and to seek private sector assistance to provide training, internships, and information about careers in various fields.
(f) Developing methods of career technical teacher training and recruitment, which may include those with college training or teachers whose background is based on experience in the field in which he or she may teach.

SEC. 4.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.