ARTICLE 3. Project Workability [56470 - 56474]
( Article 3 added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1484, Sec. 9. )
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) That an essential component of transition services developed and supported by the State Department of Education is project workability.
(b) That the workability program provides instruction and experiences that reinforce core curriculum concepts and skills leading to gainful employment.
(c) That since project workability was established by the State Department of Education in 1981, substantial numbers of individuals with exceptional needs have obtained full- or part-time employment.
(d) That project workability is a true partnership established at the state level through nonfinancial interagency agreements between the State Department of Education, the Department of Employment Development, and the Department of Rehabilitation, and has elevated awareness in the private sector of the employment potential of individuals with exceptional needs, and focuses its efforts in developing careers for these youth, and preventing needless economic and social dependency on state and community agencies and resources.
(e) That local education agencies in California establish linkage between agencies, eliminate duplication of effort, and develop precedent-setting employment training practices which should be preserved and advanced to better assure future productive employable citizens.
(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1484, Sec. 9.)
(a) The program shall be administered by the State Department of Education.
(b) The department shall establish an advisory committee. This committee will include representatives from local workability projects to ensure ongoing communications.
(c) The Superintendent shall develop criteria for awarding grants, funding, and evaluating workability projects.
(d) Eligible applicants shall include local educational agencies, including school districts, county offices of education, state special schools, and charter schools.
(e) Workability project applications shall include, but
are not limited to, the following elements:
(1) recruitment, (2) assessment, (3) counseling, (4) preemployment skills training, (5) vocational training, (6) student wages for try-out employment, (7) placement in unsubsidized employment, (8) other assistance with transition to a quality adult life, and (9) utilization of an interdisciplinary advisory committee to enhance project goals.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 38, Sec. 80. (SB 153) Effective June 29, 2024.)
The population served by workability projects may include secondary students with disabilities, adults with disabilities and other individuals who experience barriers to successful completion of school.
(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1484, Sec. 9.)
Project workability shall be funded pursuant to Item 6100-161-0001 of Section 2.00 of the annual Budget Act.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 56, Sec. 77. Effective January 1, 2008.)
The superintendent shall continue to seek additional state and federal funding for project workability.
(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1484, Sec. 9.)