BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
SB 500 (Hancock)
Hearing Date: 05/23/2011 Amended: 05/11/2011
Consultant: Jacqueline Wong-HernandezPolicy Vote: Education 9-1
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 500 expresses the intent of the Legislature to
preserve support and funding for partnership academies funded by
SB 70 (Scott, Chapter 253, 2005) past their current June 30,
2012 sunset date, and requires funds appropriated in the annual
Budget Act for the support of partnership academies to be
allocated to SB 70 partnership academies on a competitive basis.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13
2013-14 Fund
Continue partnership academies
$14,697 $15,147* General**
Expand partnership academies Substantial ongoing
cost pressure General**
*Annual ongoing costs
**Counts toward meeting the Proposition 98 minimum funding
guarantee
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Existing law establishes California Partnership Academies for
the purpose of providing combined academic and occupational
training programs to eligible at-risk students in grades 10-12
inclusive. (Education Code § 54690 et. seq.)
Additionally, SB 70 (Scott) required the Board of Governors of
the California Community Colleges (CCC) to assist economic and
workforce regional development centers and consortia, including
SB 500 (Hancock)
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middle and junior high schools or high schools and regional
occupational centers and programs to improve linkages and
career-technical education pathways between high schools and
community colleges, as specified. SB 70 appropriated $20
million to fund the activities required in the bill, including
funding for 150 partnership academies. According to the
Department of Education (CDE), which administers the SB 70 funds
allocated to partnership academies, there are 135 existing
partnership academies that are funded through SB 70. The CDE has
allocated planning grants funding for an additional 50 academies
(for programs it will implement next year), which will bring the
total number of SB 70 funded academies to 185.
This bill states, in codified findings and declarations, the
intent of the Legislature to preserve support and funding for
high-quality existing partnership academies schedule to expire
on June 30, 2012, and to expand the number of partnership
academies in California high schools. This bill, thus, expresses
legislative intent to continue to provide to continue to fund
both existing and planned partnership academies. It further
expresses the intent of the Legislature, in codified findings
and declarations, to expand the number of partnership academies
and requisite funding for them. This provision creates
additional cost pressure to expand programs.
This bill requires that if funds are appropriated in the annual
Budget Act, or any other measure for the support of partnership
academies, funds shall be allocated to SB 70 partnership academy
programs and awarded on a competitive basis, as specified.
This provision would prioritize these specific partnership
academies for funding purposes, from any appropriated funding
stream.