BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2172
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 21, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Julia Brownley, Chair
AB 2172 (Carter) - As Amended: April 5, 2010
SUBJECT : Career technical education: multiple pathways report
SUMMARY : Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to convene an advisory board that includes specified
parties to review the recommendations of the multiple pathways
report and to advise the SPI on the implementation of those
recommendations. Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes several findings and declarations relative to multiple
pathway programs and the enactment of AB 2648 (Bass, Carter,
Furutani), Chapter 681, Statutes of 2008.
2)Requires the SPI to convene an advisory board that includes
leaders from education, business, labor, civic organizations,
and the community to review the recommendations of the AB 2648
multiple pathways feasibility report and to advise the SPI on
the implementation of those recommendations.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires the SPI, in conjunction with specified parties, to
develop a report that explores the feasibility of establishing
and expanding additional multiple pathway programs in
California, including the costs and merits associated with
expansion of these programs, and states that multiple pathway
programs created for high schools may include, but are not
limited to, California partnership academies, regional
occupational centers and programs (ROC/Ps), charter schools,
academies, small learning communities, and other career-themed
small schools.
2)Defines "multiple pathway program" as a program that is all of
the following:
a) A multiyear, comprehensive high school program of
integrated academic and technical study that is organized
around a broad theme, interest area, or industry sector,
including, but not necessarily limited to, the industry
sectors identified in the career technical education (CTE)
AB 2172
Page 2
model standards adopted by the State Boards of Education
(SBE);
b) A program that ensures that all pupils have curriculum
choices that will prepare them for career entry and a full
range of postsecondary options, including two- and
four-year college, apprenticeship, and formal employment
training; and,
c) A program that is comprised, at a minimum, of the
following components:
i) An integrated core curriculum that meets the
eligibility requirements for admission to the University
of California (UC) and the California State University
(CSU) and is delivered through project-based learning and
other engaging instructional strategies;
ii) An integrated technical core of a sequence of at
least four related courses, that may reflect CTE
standards-based courses, that provide pupils with career
skills, that are aligned to and underscore academic
principles;
iii) A series of work-based learning opportunities that
begin with mentoring and job shadowing and evolve into
intensive internships, school-based enterprises, or
virtual apprenticeships; and
iv) Support services, including supplemental instruction
in reading and mathematics, that help pupils master the
advanced academic and technical content that is necessary
for success in college and career.
3)Requires the multiple pathway report to meet all of the
specified elements and make recommendations on specific
issues.
4)Authorizes the SPI to use existing state resources and federal
funds or if state or federal funds are not available or
sufficient, to apply for and accept grants and receive
donations, and other financial and technical support from
public or private sources for purposes of completing the
report.
AB 2172
Page 3
5)Requires the SPI to report to the Legislature as to the status
of completing the report and any preliminary recommendations
no later than July 1, 2009 and to submit a final report with
recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor no later
than December 1, 2009.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Multiple pathway programs are high school programs
that seek to make core academic subjects more relevant and
engaging for pupils as they are designed to provide access to
academic and technical study that is based on a broad theme or
an industry sector. The idea behind multiple pathways is to
integrate career based themes and content across all academic
subject areas in order to give students the opportunity to
access both core academic content and CTE without having to
choose one over the other. Multiple pathway programs are found
in several districts across the state in various forms; for
example some districts have implemented California Partnership
Academies (CPAs), small learning communities, or other
career-themed small schools.
A number of schools around the state have implemented the
multiple pathway approach. For example, Laguna Creek High
School in Elk Grove has a very successful Manufacturing
Production Technology Academy; Health Professions High School in
Sacramento uses the theme of healthcare to deliver instruction
across subject areas; and the Stanley E. Foster Construction
Tech Academy at Kearny High Educational Complex in San Diego
provides students opportunities for exploring careers in
construction, architecture and engineering. All these programs
use an industry pathway to provide pupils a college preparatory
curriculum that also allows them to explore careers and make
real world connections. The multiple pathway approach seeks to
make education more relevant for students to keep them engaged
and improve student outcomes and graduation rates.
A previous measure, AB 2648 (Bass, Carter & Furutani), Chapter
681, Statutes of 2008, requires the SPI to develop, in
conjunction with specified individuals, a report that explores
the feasibility of expanding and establishing career multiple
pathway programs throughout the state. AB 2648 requires the
recommendations to include, but not be limited to, methods for
developing and sharing models of integrated curriculum and
instruction, strategies for increasing the course options and
AB 2172
Page 4
instructional time for pupils in high school, and
recommendations for supporting regional coalitions in planning
and developing the programs, and requires the report to be
submitted to the Legislature by December 1, 2009, but at the
time of this writing, the final report has not been submitted to
the Legislature.
The SPI has worked with a wide range of stakeholders in seeking
feedback for purposes of the report and the draft report finds
that there appears to be consensus regarding the fact that
California is not succeeding in preparing students for ongoing
education and employment in the 21st century and that California
needs a stronger vision of the purpose of high school in
preparing graduates for ongoing education and family-wage career
opportunities. Additionally, the draft report suggests that,
"The multiple pathways approach is a next step for improving
California's high schools, based on efforts that started in 1992
when the California Department of Education released Second to
None: A Vision for the New California High School."
In anticipation of the report, the joint authors of AB 2648 have
introduced this bill and AB 2445 (Furutani) to implement
recommendations from the multiple pathways report. Because the
report and the recommendations have not been finalized, this
bill as currently drafted, establishes an advisory board to the
SPI for purposes of implementing the recommendations of the
report. The author intends to amend the bill once the final
recommendations are submitted to the Legislature to incorporate
those recommendations into this bill. According to CDE staff,
the report and the recommendations may be released at the end of
this month.
This bill is co-sponsored by the SPI and the Los Angeles Area
Chamber of Commerce and it is one of two vehicles that will
implement the recommendations from the multiple pathways report.
Related legislation : AB 1223 (Block) authorizes the Commission
on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to convene a workgroup to develop
program standards for the issuance of a recognition of study for
linked learning competence for holders of a single subject
credential that will be teaching pupils enrolled in linked
learning programs, defined as multiple pathway programs. AB
1223 is pending in the Senate Education Committee.
AB 2172
Page 5
AB 2172 (Carter) requires the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) to convene an advisory board that includes
specified parties to review the recommendations of a report
required pursuant to existing law, and advise the SPI on the
implementation of those recommendations. AB 2172 is pending in
this Committee and is scheduled to be heard today.
AB 2211 (Fuentes) allows school districts to provide work-based
learning opportunities for pupils through existing programs such
as partnership academies, ROPs and other CTE programs. AB 2211
passed out of the Assembly Education Committee on an 8-0 vote on
April 7, 2010.
AB 2446 (Furutani) adds career technical education (CTE), as
defined, as an option for pupils to fulfill the existing high
school graduation requirement to complete a course in visual or
performing arts or foreign language and sunsets these provisions
on January 1, 2017.
AB 2721 (Blakeslee) requires any business, trade or professional
association, union, or state or local governmental agency
establishing a career preparatory program, as specified, to
develop a course of instruction that satisfies the high school
graduation requirements applicable to grades 9-12, inclusive,
rather than to grades 11 and 12. AB 2721 is pending in this
Committee and is scheduled to be heard today.
Previous legislation : AB 2648 (Bass, Carter & Furutani), Chapter
681, Statutes of 2008, requires the SPI to develop, in
conjunction with specified individuals, a report that explores
the feasibility of expanding and establishing career multiple
pathway programs.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Los Angeles Area of Commerce (Co-sponsor)
Superintendent of Public Instruction (Co-Sponsor)
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087
AB 2172
Page 6