BILL NUMBER: AB 2445	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 8, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Furutani

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

    An act relating to education.   An act to
add and repeal Section 52372.7 of the Education Code, relating to
career technical education. 


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2445, as amended, Furutani. Education: achievement gap. 
   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to
develop, in conjunction with the Office of the Secretary for
Education, the community colleges, the University of California, the
California State University, the Legislature, the Employment
Development Department, teachers, chamber organizations, industry
representatives, research centers, parents, school administrators,
representatives of regional occupational centers and programs,
community-based organizations, labor organizations, and others as
deemed appropriate by the Superintendent, a report that explores the
feasibility of expanding and establishing career multiple pathway
programs, as defined, in California. The report is required to
include specified components, including, but not limited to, methods
for developing and sharing models of integrated curriculum and
instruction, strategies for increasing the course options and
instructional time for pupils in high school, and recommendations for
supporting regional coalitions in planning and developing the
programs. The Superintendent is required to report to the Legislature
as to the status of completing the report, and any preliminary
recommendations, by July 1, 2009, and to submit a final report with
recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2009.  
   This bill, until December 31, 2015, would require the
Superintendent, by December 31 of each year, to report to the
Legislature on the status of the advisory board to be established
pursuant to AB 2172 of the 2009-10 Regular Session.  
   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
with approval of the State Board of Education, to develop the
Academic Performance Index (API) consisting of a variety of
indicators currently reported to the State Department of Education to
track the achievement of schools and their pupils. 

   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to improve education to close the achievement gap.

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


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

   SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares all
of the following:  
   (a) Multiple pathways are an important option for transforming
California's high schools in order to close the achievement gap and
prepare all pupils for success in the global economy of the 21st
century.  
   (b) Multiple pathways are multiyear programs that offer high
school pupils four key components: an integrated core academic
curriculum, an integrated core technical curriculum, a series of
work-based learning opportunities, and pupil support services. 

   (c) To compete in a competitive global economy and ensure the
long-term viability of the state, California must increase the number
of high school graduates who are better prepared to pursue the full
range of postsecondary opportunities, apprenticeships, additional
training, and two- and four-year colleges.  
   (d) Multiple pathways programs are a proven and beneficial way to
increase graduation rates, prepare pupils for both college and
career, and help to close the achievement gap.  
   (e) In recognition of the importance of the multiple pathways
approach, the Legislature adopted and the Governor signed Assembly
Bill 2648 of the 2007-08 Regular Session to require the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a report that
explores the feasibility of establishing and expanding additional
multiple pathway programs.  
   (f) The bill required the report to include specified components,
including, but not limited to, methods for developing and sharing
models of integrated curriculum and instruction, strategies for
increasing the course options and instructional time for pupils in
high school, and recommendations for supporting regional coalitions
in planning and developing the programs.  
   (g) The purpose of this act is to establish the foundation for the
expansion and enhancement of multiple pathways programs pursuant to
the intent of Assembly Bill 2648. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 52372.7 is added to the  
Education Code   , to read:  
   52372.7.  (a) By December 31 of each year, the Superintendent
shall report to the Legislature on the status of the advisory board
to be established pursuant to Section 52372.6 as enacted by Assembly
Bill 2172 of the 2009-10 Regular Session.
   (b) (1) The report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
Code.
   (2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
section is repealed on December 31, 2015.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation to improve education to close the achievement
gap.