BILL NUMBER: AB 790 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 31, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Furutani and Carter
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
An act to add Sections 52372.7 and 52372.8 to the Education
Code, relating to pupil instruction.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 790, as amended, Furutani. Pupil instruction: linked
learning. Multiple Pathway Pilot Program.
(1) Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to develop, in conjunction with specified persons and entities, a
report that explores the feasibility of expanding and establishing
career multiple pathway programs, as defined, in California.
This bill would establish the Multiple Pathway Pilot Program to be
administered by the State Department of Education according to
specified requirements for the purpose of implementing districtwide
multiple pathway learning approaches in all participating school
districts. The bill would authorize a school district that maintains
grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to apply to the Superintendent to operate
a pilot program. The bill would require the department to review
these applications and would authorize the Superintendent to
initially approve up to 20 applications. The bill would require this
application review and approval to be conducted on a competitive
basis with consideration given to specified factors. The bill would
require the Superintendent to transmit a report to the Legislature
and the Governor by January 18, 2018, that makes specified
evaluations and recommendations.
(2) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school
district or a county board of education, on a districtwide or
countywide basis or on behalf of one or more of its schools or
programs, after a public hearing on the matter, to request the State
Board of Education to waive all or part of any statute in the
Education Code or any regulation adopted by the state board that
implements a provision of that code, except as specified.
This bill would authorize the Superintendent, upon application of
a school district and for the operation of a multiple pathway
program, to waive any provisions of the Education Code, other than
those specified.
Existing law establishes the system of public elementary and
secondary schools in this state, and provides for the establishment
of the local educational agencies, including school districts, that
establish and operate the schools and provide instruction to pupils
throughout the state.
This bill would express a finding and declaration of the
Legislature relating to the educational approach known as linked
learning, and would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would help expand and enhance the delivery of linked
learning in California's public elementary and secondary schools.
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) California is at a critical crossroads in terms of the
challenges it faces in reforming its public high school system.
(b) California is facing an unprecedented state funding gap and
will face continued fiscal problems in the future if it does not
produce an educated and career ready workforce.
(c) California must lead efforts to improve graduation rates,
close achievement and opportunity gaps, and prepare all pupils for
success in pursuing both living-wage careers and a variety of
postsecondary learning experiences.
(d) California must embrace new, innovative approaches to
educational transformation that are likely to lead to high successful
outcomes for our pupils, families, communities, and local and state
economies.
(e) The multiple pathway approach is one of the most promising
high school transformational strategies and can be expanded to play a
pivotal role in enabling all of our pupils to be well prepared for
life and workforce demands in a 21st century global economy and
society.
SEC. 2. Section 52372.7 is added to the
Education Code , to read:
52372.7. (a) The Multiple Pathway Pilot Program is hereby
established for the purpose of implementing districtwide multiple
pathway learning approaches in all participating school districts.
(b) The pilot program shall be administered by the department and
shall contain all of the following requirements:
(1) Each participating school district shall incorporate
small-sized schools and smaller groupings of pupils within new and
existing high schools.
(2) Rigorous multiple pathway programs of study shall be
implemented that guide pupils through course sequences leading to
mastery of standards, high school graduation, and transition to
postsecondary education or employment. These programs of study shall
include career technical education courses as defined by the
California State Plan for Career Technical Education.
(3) Policies and agreements shall be adopted by participating
school districts that promote concurrent enrollment and dual credit
with community colleges and universities.
(4) Problem-based instructional methodologies, inquiry learning
approaches, and applied learning strategies shall be adopted within
all subject areas.
(5) Pupil progress through high school shall be determined by
mastery of grade-level standards-based performance benchmarks
developed by the participating school district.
(6) Multiple pathway programs shall be implemented by
participating school districts within the district's existing state
and local resources.
(7) Participating school districts shall involve local business,
labor, parent, and community partners to advise the district on the
development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the pilot
program.
(8) Participating school districts shall be eligible for waivers
pursuant to Section 52372.8 to more efficiently operate and adapt to
the needs of pupils and communities.
(9) Participating school districts shall receive priority for
appropriate competitive grant funding distributed by the department.
(c) (1) A school district that maintains grades 9 to 12,
inclusive, may apply to the Superintendent to operate a Multiple
Pathway Pilot Program in accordance with this section. The department
shall review these applications and the Superintendent may initially
approve up to 20 applications, and may approve additional
applications on an annual basis thereafter.
(2) The review and approval of applications pursuant to paragraph
(1) shall be conducted on a competitive basis and consideration shall
be given to factors related to the geographic diversity, type, and
size of a school district, and the extent to which a school district'
s pilot program would receive financial and in-kind support from the
business and civic community or funding from government or foundation
grants.
(d) On or before January 18, 2018, the Superintendent shall
transmit a report to the Legislature and the Governor that documents
an independent evaluation of the costs and merits of the pilot
program, and contains the Superintendent's recommendations regarding
the need for additional statutory changes to facilitate the statewide
expansion of the Multiple Pathway Pilot Program.
(e) The Superintendent may develop regulations necessary to
implement the provisions of this section.
SEC. 3. Section 52372.8 is added to the
Education Code , to read:
52372.8. For the operation of a multiple pathway program, as
defined in Section 52372.5, the Superintendent may, upon application
of a school district, waive any provisions of this code other than
those relating to earthquake safety and the provisions of this
chapter.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares
that linked learning is an educational approach that makes learning
exciting and challenging by connecting academic study with real-world
experience in a wide range of fields. It is the intent of the
Legislature to enact legislation that would help expand and enhance
the delivery of linked learning in California's public elementary and
secondary schools.