Amended in Senate April 1, 2013

Senate Bill No. 540

Introduced by Senator Wyland

February 22, 2013

An act to begin delete amend Section 51225.3 of end delete begin insert add Section 52377.3 to end insert the Education Code, relating to begin delete high school graduation requirements end delete begin insert career technical education end insert .

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 540, as amended, Wyland. begin delete High school graduation requirements. end delete begin insert Career technical education: recognition certificates. end insert

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Existing law authorizes a school district to issue diplomas or certificates evidencing the completion of a prescribed course of study following a pupil’s satisfactory completion of that course of study.

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This bill would authorize a school district or county office of education to award a pupil a career technical education certificate if the pupil meets specified requirements, including satisfactory completion of 4 semester-long career technical education courses, a structured work-based learning experience, and a related culminating project. The bill would prohibit the award of a career technical education certificate awarded under the bill from being construed as equivalent to the award of a high school diploma or as a change to the statutory curriculum or compulsory education requirements.

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Existing law requires a pupil to complete specified courses while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation from high school.

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This bill would make nonsubstantive changed to this provision.

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

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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begin insert Section 52377.3 is added to the end insert begin insert Education Code end insert begin insert ,
to read: end insert

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begin insert 52377.3. end insert   

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district
or county office of education may award a pupil a career technical
education certificate if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The pupil has satisfactorily completed four semester-long
career technical education courses. To the extent possible, the
courses shall be within the same industry sector as identified in
the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum
standards adopted by the state board.

(2) The pupil has satisfactorily participated in a structured
work-based learning experience related to the career technical
education courses.

(3) The pupil has satisfactorily completed a culminating project
related to the career technical education courses.

(b) The award of a career technical education certificate under
this section shall in no way be construed as equivalent to the award
of a high school diploma or as a change to the requirements of
Section 48200 or 51225.3.

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SECTION 1.  

Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, as
amended by Section 3 of Chapter 621 of the Statutes of 2011, is
amended to read:

51225.3.  

(a) A pupil shall complete all of the following while
in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of
graduation from high school:

(1) At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects
specified, each course having a duration of one year, unless
otherwise specified:

(A) Three courses in English.

(B) Two courses in mathematics.

(C) Two courses in science, including biological and physical
sciences.

(D) Three courses in social studies, including United States
history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a
one-semester course in American government and civics; and a
one-semester course in economics.

(E) One course in visual or performing arts, foreign language,
or, commencing with the 2012-13 school year, career technical
education.

(i) For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this
subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be
deemed a course in foreign language.

(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, “a course in career
technical education” means a course in a district-operated career
technical education program that is aligned to the career technical
model curriculum standards and framework adopted by the state
board, including courses through a regional occupational center
or program operated by a county superintendent of schools or
pursuant to a joint powers agreement.

(iii) This subparagraph does not require a school or school
district that currently does not offer career technical education
courses to start new career technical education programs for
purposes of this section.

(iv) If a school district or county office of education elects to
allow a career technical education course to satisfy the requirement
imposed by this subparagraph, the governing board of the school
district or county office of education, before offering that
alternative to pupils, shall notify parents, teachers, pupils, and the
public at a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board of
all of the following:

(I) The intent to offer career technical education courses to fulfill
the graduation requirement specified in this subparagraph.

(II) The impact that offering career technical education courses,
pursuant to this subparagraph, will have on the availability of
courses that meet the eligibility requirements for admission to the
California State University and the University of California, and
whether the career technical education courses to be offered
pursuant to this subparagraph are approved to satisfy those
eligibility requirements. If a school district elects to allow a career
technical education course to satisfy the requirement imposed by
this subparagraph, the school district shall comply with subdivision
(m) of Section 48980.

(III) The distinction, if any, between the high school graduation
requirements of the school district or county office of education,
and the eligibility requirements for admission to the California
State University and the University of California.

(F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been
exempted pursuant to the provisions of this code.

(2) Other coursework requirements adopted by the governing
board of the school district.

(b) The governing board, with the active involvement of parents,
administrators, teachers, and pupils, shall adopt alternative means
for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study that may
include practical demonstration of skills and competencies,
supervised work experience or other outside school experience,
career technical education classes offered in high schools, courses
offered by regional occupational centers or programs,
interdisciplinary study, independent study, and credit earned at a
postsecondary educational institution. Requirements for graduation
and specified alternative modes for completing the prescribed
course of study shall be made available to pupils, parents, and the
public.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district shall exempt
a pupil in foster care from all coursework and other requirements
adopted by the governing board of the district that are in addition
to the statewide coursework requirements specified in this section
if the pupil, while the pupil is in grade 11 or 12, transfers into the
district from another school district or between high schools within
the district, unless the district makes a finding that the pupil is
reasonably able to complete the additional requirements in time
to graduate from high school while the pupil remains eligible for
foster care benefits pursuant to state law. A school district shall
notify a pupil in foster care who is granted an exemption pursuant
to this subdivision, and, as appropriate, the person holding the
right to make educational decisions for the pupil, if any of the
requirements that are waived will affect the pupil’s ability to gain
admission to a postsecondary educational institution and shall
provide information about transfer opportunities available through
the California Community Colleges.

(d) On or before July 1, 2017, the department shall submit a
comprehensive report to the appropriate policy committees of the
Legislature on the addition of career technical education courses
to satisfy the requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, the
following information:

(1) A comparison of the pupil enrollment in career technical
education courses, foreign language courses, and visual and
performing arts courses for the 2005-06 to 2011-12 school years,
inclusive, to the pupil enrollment in career technical education
courses, foreign language courses, and visual and performing arts
courses for the 2012-13 to 2016-17 school years, inclusive.

(2) The reasons, reported by school districts, that pupils give
for choosing to enroll in a career technical education course to
satisfy the requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph
(1) of subdivision (a).

(3) The type and number of career technical education courses
that were conducted for the 2005-06 to 2011-12 school years,
inclusive, compared to the type and number of career technical
education courses that were conducted for the 2012-13 to 2016-17
school years, inclusive.

(4) The number of career technical education courses that
satisfied the subject matter requirements for admission to the
University of California or the California State University.

(5) The extent to which the career technical education courses
chosen by pupils are aligned with the California Career Technical
Education Standards, and prepare pupils for employment, advanced
training, and postsecondary education.

(6) The number of career technical education courses that also
satisfy the visual and performing arts requirement, and the number
of career technical education courses that also satisfy the foreign
language requirement.

(7) Annual pupil dropout and graduation rates for the 2011-12
to 2014-15 school years, inclusive.

(e) For purposes of completing the report described in
subdivision (d), the Superintendent may use existing state resources
and federal funds. If state or federal funds are not available or
sufficient, the Superintendent may apply for and accept grants,
and receive donations and other financial support from public or
private sources for purposes of this section.

(f) For purposes of completing the report described in
subdivision (d), the Superintendent may accept support, including,
but not limited to, financial and technical support, from high school
reform advocates, teachers, chamber organizations, industry
representatives, research centers, parents, and pupils.

(g) This section shall become inoperative on the earlier of the
following two dates:

(1) On July 1, immediately following the first fiscal year after
the enactment of the act that adds this paragraph in which the
number of career technical education courses that, as determined
by the department, satisfy the foreign language requirement for
admission to the California State University and the University of
California is at least twice the number of career technical education
courses that meet these admission requirements as of January 1,
2012. This section shall be repealed on the following January 1,
unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before
that date, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes
inoperative and is repealed. It is the intent of the Legislature that
new career technical education courses that satisfy the foreign
language requirement for admission to the California State
University and the University of California focus on world
languages aligned with career preparation, emphasizing real-world
application and technical content in related career and technical
education courses.

(2) On July 1, 2017, and, as of January 1, 2018, is repealed,
unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before
January 1, 2018, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes
inoperative and is repealed.

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