BILL ANALYSIS AB 2211 Page 1 CORRECTED - 06/02/2010 Technical change (Member name) ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 2211 (Fuentes) As Amended April 13, 2010 2/3 vote. Urgency EDUCATION 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Brownley, Nestande, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, | | |Ammiano, Arambula, | | | | |Carter, Chesbro, Norby, | |Bradford, Charles | | |Torlakson | |Calderon, Coto, | | | | |Davis, Monning, Ruskin, | | | | |Harkey, | | | | |Miller, Nielsen, Norby, | | | | |Skinner, Solorio, | | | | |Torlakson, Torrico | |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------| | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY : Allows school districts to provide work-based learning opportunities for pupils through existing programs such as partnership academies, regional occupational programs (ROPs), and other career technical education (CTE) programs and states that high quality work-based learning experiences may include, but are not limited to, specified components and characteristics. Specifically, this bill : 1)Makes various findings and declarations related to work-based learning, and defines "work-based learning" as an educational approach or instructional methodology that uses the workplace or real work to provide pupils the knowledge and skills that help them connect school experiences to real-life work activities and future career opportunities. 2)Authorizes school districts that maintain high schools to establish work-based learning programs, and requires districts that choose to offer work-based learning opportunities to ensure that pupils are afforded the same statutory and regulatory safeguards as pupils in work experience programs, and authorizes districts to purchase liability insurance for pupils enrolled in programs of study involving work-based learning off school grounds and to arrange, approve coordinate and award credit for AB 2211 Page 2 work-based learning. 3)Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), in conjunction with specified education stakeholders, to develop principles and guidelines for the establishment of work-based learning programs and consider existing guidelines or regulations relative to relevant programs and the most current academic and career technical education standards. 4)Authorizes the State Board of Education (SBE) and the SPI for purposes of completing these principles and guidelines to use existing federal and state funds or to apply for and accept grants and receive donations, or other financial support from public or private sources. 5)Encourages school districts offering work-based learning to provide information to local transportation agencies regarding existing schools offering work-based learning opportunities and participating industry worksites and to submit to the California Department of Education (CDE) work-based learning best practices and specific examples of work-based learning offered by the district. 6)Encourages school districts to work with local workforce investment board youth councils to maximize the use of available resources for youth employment opportunities. 7)Adds an urgency clause allowing this measure to become effective immediately upon enactment. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, General Fund administrative costs, likely between $125,000 and $200,000, to the SPI to develop principles and guidelines for the establishment of work-based learning programs. This measure authorizes the SPI to use grant funding or public donations to complete the principles and guidelines, as specified. COMMENTS : This bill authorizes programs such as partnership academies and regional occupational centers and programs to deliver work-based learning opportunities for pupils. Work-based learning is defined in this bill as an educational approach or instructional methodology that uses the workplace or real work to provide pupils the knowledge and skills that help them connect school experiences to real-life work activities and career opportunities. The objective is for work-based learning to AB 2211 Page 3 systematically reinforce both academic and technical content, and the approach requires active involvement of industry partners and teachers to coordinate the curriculum. Work-based learning can take the form of internships, apprenticeships, workplace simulations, and other opportunities in the business or nonprofit arena. Previous bills relative to work-based learning have been vetoed by the Governor. The last veto message notes the lack of "sufficient protections to ensure that students are not solely enrolled in job opportunities that are not combined with sufficient academic coursework." This bill is different from the prior bills in that it includes a requirement for the SPI to develop principles and guidelines for the delivery of work-based learning, as specified, and to consider existing guidelines and regulations that have been developed for similar programs. Prior legislation: AB 332 (Fuentes) of 2009 would have allowed school districts to provide work-based learning opportunities for pupils through existing programs such as partnership academies and ROPs. AB 332 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger with the following veto message: While I am very supportive of the intent of this bill of providing students with opportunities to receive rigorous and relevant career technical education linked to real world experiences, I am concerned that this bill lacks sufficient protections to ensure that students are not solely enrolled in job opportunities that are not combined with sufficient academic coursework. However I am directing my Administration to work with the author so that I can consider a measure that is more tightly crafted and would accomplish the goal of promoting a balanced approach towards work-based learning. AB 2078 (Fuentes) of 2008 would have provided that work-based learning opportunities for pupils may be delivered through existing programs such as partnership academies and regional occupational programs (ROPs). AB 2078 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. The veto message read: "The historic delay in passing the 2008-2009 State Budget has forced me to prioritize the bills sent AB 2211 Page 4 to my desk at the end of the year's legislative session. Given the delay, I am only signing bills that are the highest priority for California. This bill does not meet that standard and I cannot sign it at this time." Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avina / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0004557