BILL NUMBER: SB 1248	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 20, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 6, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 22, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 27, 2008

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wyland
   (Coauthor: Senator Alquist)

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2008

    An act relating to career technical education. 
 An act to amend Section 52372 of the Education Code, relating to
career technical education. 


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1248, as amended, Wyland. Career technical education. 
   Existing law authorizes the governing board of a high school
district, as specified, the governing board of a joint powers
regional occupational center or program, or the county superintendent
of schools that conduct 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 encourage governing boards and county
superintendents of schools to house these cooperative career
technical education programs on existing high school campuses. 

   Existing law requires school districts to adopt a course of study
for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, that includes, among other things,
courses in career technical education.  
   This bill would state findings and declarations of the Legislature
regarding the need for career technical education programs, and
would encourage 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. 

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 52372 of the  
Education Code   is amended to read: 
   52372.  The governing board of  any   a 
high school district, subject to the provisions of this code
relating to courses of study for high schools, the governing board of
 any   a  joint powers regional
occupational center or program, or the county superintendent of
schools  which conducts   that conduct  any
county-operated regional occupational center or program, may
establish and maintain, in connection with  any 
 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 rules and regulations
prescribed by the Superintendent  of Public Instruction
 .  Governing boards and county superintendents of
schools are encouraged to house these cooperative career technical
education programs on existing high school campuses.  
  SECTION 1.    (a) The Legislature finds and
declares all of the following:
   (1) 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.
   (2) California is not graduating pupils with the necessary skills
or training to enter into the various fields described in paragraph
(1).
   (3) California high schools have an unacceptable rate of pupils
who do not graduate.
   (4) Up to 70 percent of jobs require basic skills and often
postsecondary training, but do not require a college degree.
   (5) All young people deserve the opportunity to believe in
themselves as significant and important additions to our society and
economy.
   (6) The lack of opportunities for high school pupils to be exposed
to career technical education has contributed to the problems
described in paragraphs (2) and (3).
   (b) The Legislature, therefore, encourages the Superintendent of
Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to consider ways
to expand career technical education in middle and high schools in
California, including any of the following:
   (1) Seeking public-private partnerships to provide facilities and
equipment for career technical courses.
   (2) Incorporating career technical courses in standard high school
curriculum.
   (3) Allowing high schools to include a significant number of
career technical courses in their requirements for graduation.
   (4) Developing extensive curriculum frameworks, guidelines, and
instructional materials for the courses described in paragraphs (2)
and (3).
   (5) 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.
   (6) 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.