BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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Date of Hearing: May 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2237 (Olsen) - As Amended April 25, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill establishes Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) Partnership Academies for the purpose of
providing grants to school districts to establish up to 100
academies in STEM occupations. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the California Department of Education, starting with
the 2016-17 school year, with funds appropriated in the annual
Budget Act, to 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
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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.
2)Requires the selection of school districts, and the planning
and development of these academies, to be consistent with
existing law requirements for partnership academies.
3)Authorizes first-year implementation funds for school
districts applying to convert an existing school program into
a partnership academy if they meet existing law requirements
for partnership academies (such as 100% matching funds from
the school district and the private sector) and meet the
following requirements:
a) Provide coursework and internship or pre-apprenticeship
programs which focus significant time on the use of
emerging technologies and state-of-the-art equipment. This
effort must include input from industry and professional
trade organizations.
b) Provide staff development opportunities to ensure that
teaching staff have the opportunity to be trained in the
use of emerging technologies and become familiar with new
equipment and current practices in STEM fields.
4)Requires the Superintendent to give priority for grant funding
to proposals that address participation of students
traditionally underrepresented in STEM education and
professions.
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FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Proposition 98/GF cost pressure in the millions of dollars to
provide 100 STEM partnership academy grants. Grants are
contingent upon an appropriation in the budget act. The
Governor's January budget proposes $21.4 million for
approximately 300 existing partnership grantees. There is no
additional funding proposed for STEM partnership grants in the
Governor's budget.
Assuming the 100 grants were structured like the existing
California Partnership Academy (CPA) program, CDE estimates
$1.5 million for first year planning costs for 2016-17; $4.2
million for first year one implementation in grade 10 only;
$7.2 million in year two implementation for grades 10 and 11;
and $8.1 million in 2019-20 and beyond (full implementation
for grades 10, 11 and 12).
2)One-time Proposition 98/GF costs of approximately $50,000 for
the California Department of Education to provide training to
approximately 500 administrators and teachers (3 day
training). Ongoing GF administrative costs in the range of
$20,000 to $25,000 for CDE to administer the grant program.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. This bill is modeled after the existing California
Partnership Academies (CPA). The CPA is a three-year program
(grades 10-12) that provides 3 year grants, in the amounts of
approximately $73,620, $62,980 and $38,190. Academies are
structured as a school-within-a-school and incorporate
integrated academic and career technical education, business
partnerships, mentoring, and internships. Districts are required
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to match 100 percent of the state grant with in-kind support.
The private sector also provides a 100 percent match of state
funds in either direct or in-kind support. According to the
author, about 95 percent of CPA students graduate high school,
whereas only 85 percent are graduating state wide. The author's
office states the increased upfront investment in these
academies yields long term savings in the out years.
Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081