BILL NUMBER: AB 876 CHAPTERED 09/30/08 CHAPTER 650 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 13, 2008 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 15, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 11, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 2, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 7, 2008 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 18, 2008 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 10, 2008 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 7, 2008 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Davis FEBRUARY 22, 2007 An act to add Section 66205.7 to the Education Code, relating to career technical education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 876, Davis. Career technical education. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to coordinate the development, on a cyclical basis, of model curriculum standards for a high school career technical course of study pursuant to policies developed by the State Board of Education. Existing law also requires the Superintendent to develop a career technical curriculum framework based on prescribed criteria. Existing law requires that, if by July 1, 2008, the University of California has not adopted model uniform academic standards for career technical education that will satisfy the completion of a general elective course requirement for the purposes of admission to that university, the Regents of the University of California are requested to recognize the completion of model curriculum standards established by the Superintendent pursuant to the career technical curriculum framework referenced above. Existing law imposes a similar requirement on the California State University, but makes that university's recognition of the model curriculum standards mandatory if it has not adopted model uniform academic standards for career technical education by July 1, 2008. This bill would request the California State University and the University of California to take specified actions with respect to the recognition of career technical education coursework in connection with the admissions criteria of the respective universities. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) There is inherent value in career technical education. (b) In an economy characterized by increased demands for college-educated workers and for increased skills among entry-level workers, career technical education, when combined with core academic coursework, can help prepare young people for successful transition into the workforce or for further education and training. (c) When students apply academic subject matter in out-of-school contexts, they deepen their understanding and retention of academic concepts, and thereby increase academic achievement. (d) A curriculum that shows how academic knowledge and skills are used in the world of work may motivate more students to persevere in the academic courses that prepare them for college. Research shows that when students combine career technical education coursework with academic preparation, their graduation and participation rates improve. (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that on and after July 1, 2009, applications for admissions to the California State University and the University of California include an opportunity for students to record courses that do not meet the "a-g" admission requirements of the University of California, including, but not necessarily limited to, career technical education courses. SEC. 2. Section 66205.7 is added to the Education Code, to read: 66205.7. The California State University and the University of California are requested to carry out all of the following responsibilities: (a) If the department or another state agency develops a model career technical education curriculum that integrates academic and technical knowledge and skills, designate qualified representatives to offer their expertise in the development and establishment of that curriculum. This model curriculum shall incorporate provisions of the curriculum developed pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 51220, as appropriate. (b) If a school district or other local educational agency with schools maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, offers students an integrated model curriculum developed pursuant to subdivision (a), designate qualified representatives to offer their expertise to teachers and administrators in the delivery of that curriculum. School districts or other local educational agencies are also encouraged to seek the expertise of an advisory group that may include representatives from all of the following: (1) Business and industry, related to career technical programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. (2) Classroom teachers in career technical education. (3) School administrators. (4) The California State University and the University of California. (5) Parents. (c) On or before July 1, 2011, develop an online resource that lists the academic and technical courses offered at each of the 109 community colleges in this state that, when completed by high school students, satisfy one of the subject area requirements of the "a-g" admission requirements of the University of California, and link this information to the career technical education Web site pages created in accordance with Section 52499.66. (d) On or before July 1, 2011, develop an online resource that posts the existence and terms of agreements made between local high schools and individual university campuses that grant university credit or advanced standing to students who complete specified high school pathway programs to study, and link this information to the career technical education Web site pages created in accordance with Section 52499.66.