BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2063
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 27, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2063 (Gallagher) - As Amended April 13, 2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Education |Vote:|7 - 0 |
|Committee: | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill authorizes a 14 year old student to participate in
work experience education (WEE) and receive credit, as
specified, if the principal certifies that the student's
participation in WEE is necessary for participation in a career
technical education (CTE) program. This bill also clarifies that
a student may participate in a job shadowing experience for up
to 40 hours in one semester, intersession or summer session, if
approved by the principal and is determined necessary for
participation in a CTE program.
FISCAL EFFECT:
AB 2063
Page 2
No significant state fiscal impacts. Expansion of WEE to 14 year
olds is permissive and there are only 523 schools that offer WEE
currently.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, exposing students to work
experience at a younger age allows them to explore more career
options and gives them the knowledge and experience they need
to launch their careers or further their education. This bill
would make it easier for high school students to participate
in WEE by lowering age for participation in work experience
education.
2)Background. Work experience education (WEE) is a course of
study that may be established by a governing board of any
local education agency (LEA) to provide paid or unpaid
on-the-job experiences for high school students through
training agreements with employers. WEE includes both paid and
non-paid experiences.
In recent years, many districts have reduced or eliminated
their general work experience programs. While general work
experience is important for providing basic workplace skills
the state plan for CTE calls for "more readily available
vocational work experience that would provide meaningful
expansion of learning for students in CTE programs."
AB 2063
Page 3
According to the CDE, in the 2014-15 school year, 523 schools
offer some type of WEE program, with 2,007 different courses
taught. There were 17,439 students enrolled in WEE programs.
Compared to the enrollment in other CTE courses, these numbers
are relatively low. For example, 1,140 schools offer a CTE
program on Arts, Media, and Entertainment, (just one of the 15
CTE industry sectors) with 7,068 courses taught, and a total
of 162,093 students enrolled.
Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081