BILL NUMBER: AB 2237 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 18, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Olsen
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Bonilla, Chang, and Gray)
FEBRUARY 18, 2016
An act to add Article 14 (commencing with Section 33480) to
Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
relating to elementary and secondary education.
partnership academies.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2237, as amended, Olsen. Elementary and secondary
education: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
education. Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Partnership Academies.
Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and
secondary education, with instruction provided by school districts at
schoolsites throughout the state. The State Department of Education,
under the administration of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, has numerous duties with respect to the funding and
conduct of the instructional activities undertaken by school
districts.
This bill would establish a program for purposes of providing
grants to school districts for the establishment of up to 100
partnership academies dedicated to training young people in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations.
Existing law establishes a system of elementary and secondary
education in this state, consisting of public and private elementary
and secondary schools providing instruction in kindergarten and
grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation relating to the provision of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in elementary and
secondary schools in this state.
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) All young people should be prepared to think deeply and
critically so that they can become innovators, educators,
researchers, and leaders capable of solving the most pressing
challenges facing our nation and world, both today and tomorrow.
However, currently, not enough of our youth have access to quality
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning
opportunities, and too few students see these disciplines as
springboards to their careers.
(b) Only 81 percent of Asian American high school pupils and 71
percent of white high school pupils attend high schools where the
full range of mathematics and science courses, namely Algebra I,
Geometry, Algebra II, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, are
offered. Access to these courses for American Indian, Native Alaskan,
black, and Hispanic high school pupils is significantly worse. A
child's race, ZIP code, or socioeconomic status should never
determine his or her STEM fluency. Children must be provided with the
opportunity to be career- and college-ready in order to thrive in a
modern STEM economy.
(c) Only 16 percent of American high school seniors are proficient
in mathematics and interested in a STEM career. Even among those who
do go on to pursue a college or university major in STEM fields,
only about half choose to work in a STEM-related career. In 2014,
California's K-12 public education system ranked 43rd in the nation.
Surveys reveal that only 29 percent of Americans rated our nation's
K-12 education system in STEM subjects as above average or the best
in the world. In our competitive global economy, these statistics are
unacceptable.
(d) Partnership academies provide smaller learning communities
with a career-focused theme. Academy components include rigorous
academics and career technical education, a committed team of
teachers, and active business and postsecondary partnerships.
(e) Therefore, the Legislature needs to provide more opportunities
for pupils in our state's public schools to access high-quality STEM
preparation through a variety of opportunities, including additional
funding for establishing STEM-related partnership academies.
SEC . 2. Article
14 (commencing with Section 33480) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 20
of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code
, to read:
Article 14. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Partnership Academies Act
33480. This article shall be known, and may be cited as, Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Partnership Academies.
33481. (a) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Partnership Academies is hereby established. Commencing with the
2016-17 school year, the department, in coordination with the
Superintendent shall, with funds appropriated in the annual Budget
Act, issue grants for the establishment of 100 partnership academies
dedicated to training young people in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations, including, but not
limited to, application software developer, computer user support
specialist, computer programmer, computer hardware engineer,
industrial engineer, civil engineer, architectural engineer,
aerospace engineer, dietetic technician, medical scientist,
microbiologist, general medical practitioner, dental services
provider, and chemist.
(b) (1) The selection of school districts to establish STEM
partnership academies, and the planning and development of these
academies, shall be conducted pursuant to the procedures and
requirements established as specified in Section 54691. Planning and
development grants under this article shall be made available for up
to 100 partnership academies in addition to the total number of
grants established pursuant to Section 54691.
(2) A school district applying to convert an existing school
program into a partnership academy that meets the criteria for a
partnership academy pursuant to Section 54692 and paragraph (3) may
receive first-year implementation funds, as appropriate, in
accordance with this article.
(3) To be eligible for funding pursuant to this article, each
proposed partnership academy shall satisfy both of the following
requirements:
(A) (i) Coursework and internship or preapprenticeship programs of
the proposed academy shall focus significant time on the use of
emerging technologies and state-of-the-art equipment.
(ii) The proposed partnership academy shall demonstrate compliance
with clause (i) through its efforts to obtain input from industry
and professional trade organizations.
(B) Staff development opportunities shall be included in the
proposed partnership academy plan to ensure that teaching staff has
the opportunity to be trained in the use of emerging technologies and
become familiar with new equipment and current practices in STEM
fields.
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation relating to the provision of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in
elementary and secondary schools in this state.