BILL ANALYSIS
AB 332
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 332 (Fuentes)
As Introduced February 18, 2009
2/3 vote. Urgency
EDUCATION 11-0
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| |Brownley, Nestande, | | |
| |Ammiano, Arambula, | | |
| |Buchanan, Carter, Eng, | | |
| |Garrick, Miller, Solorio, | | |
|Ayes:|Torlakson | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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| | | | |
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|ASSEMBLY: |70-0 |(April 16, |SENATE: |40-0 |(June 24, |
| | |2009) | | |2009) |
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SUMMARY : Allows school districts to provide work-based learning
opportunities for pupils through existing programs such as
partnership academies and regional occupational programs (ROPs).
Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes various findings and declarations related to work-based
learning.
2)Defines "work-based learning" as an educational approach or
instructional methodology that uses the workplace or real work
to provide pupils the knowledge and skills that help them
connect school experiences to real-life work activities and
future career opportunities.
3)Provides that work-based learning opportunities for pupils may
be delivered by partnership academies, ROPs, and other
AB 332
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educational programs, and may include but are not limited to,
work experience education, community classrooms, cooperative
career technical education (CTE) programs, and job shadowing.
4)Authorizes school districts that maintain high schools to
establish work-based learning programs, and requires districts
that choose to offer work-based learning opportunities to
ensure that pupils are afforded the same statutory and
regulatory safeguards as pupils in work experience programs.
5)Authorizes districts to purchase liability insurance for
pupils enrolled in programs of study involving work-based
learning off school grounds and to arrange, approve coordinate
and award credit for work-based learning.
6)States that high quality work-based learning experiences may
include, but are not limited to, specified components and
characteristics.
7)Declares this bill take effect immediately upon enactment.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Authorizes school districts that maintain high schools to
establish work experience programs for the purpose of
providing pupils with instruction in skills, attitudes, and
understandings necessary for success in employment.
2)Provides for school districts that establish work experience
programs to receive apportionments based on the average daily
attendance in those programs, and provides procedures for the
calculation of the amount of those apportionments.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS : According to the California Department of Education
(CDE), Work Experience Education (WEE) is a course of study
which may be established by the governing board of any school
district or other specified local education agency to provide
paid or unpaid on-the-job experiences for secondary school
students through training agreements with employers.
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The operational plan of the WEE program combines an on-the-job
component with related classroom instruction designed to
maximize the value of on-the-job experiences. Student success
in WEE programs depends on the quality of classroom instruction,
effective collaboration between employers and the WEE
coordinators, and the degree of involvement by the students and
their parents or legal guardians.
This bill authorizes programs such as partnership academies and
regional occupational centers and programs to deliver work-based
learning opportunities for pupils.
Work-based learning is defined in this bill as an educational
approach or instructional methodology that uses the workplace or
real work to provide pupils the knowledge and skills that help
them connect school experiences to real-life work activities and
career opportunities. The objective is for work-based learning
to systematically reinforce both academic and technical content.
This approach will require active involvement of industry
partners and teachers to coordinate the curriculum.
The author states, "AB 332 would expand 'work experience type
programs'- such as work-experience; ROC/P [regional occupational
centers or programs], job shadowing; paid and unpaid
internships; and pre-apprenticeship programs- to broaden the
availability of 'work-based learning' programs. Additionally,
the bill will facilitate relationships between the local
education agency and employers by providing each with clear
guidelines, goals, and expectations."
Arguments in support: The California Teachers Association (CTA)
writes, "CTA believes career technical education in its broadest
sense includes career exploration, job training, work
experience, certificate programs and all basic proficiencies
related to employment and the acquisition of employable skills,
attitudes, and values. Job training/employment training is a
component of career technical education."
Prior legislation: An identical measure, AB 2078 (Fuentes) of
2008 provides that work-based learning opportunities for pupils
may be delivered through existing programs such as partnership
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academies and ROPs. AB 2078 was vetoed by Governor
Schwarzenegger.
The veto message read: "The historic delay in passing the
2008-2009 State Budget has forced me to prioritize the bills
sent to my desk at the end of the year's legislative session.
Given the delay, I am only signing bills that are the highest
priority for California. This bill does not meet that standard
and I cannot sign it at this time."
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
While I am very supportive of the intent of this bill
of providing students with opportunities to receive
rigorous and relevant career technical education
linked to real world experiences, I am concerned that
this bill lacks sufficient protections to ensure that
students are not solely enrolled in job opportunities
that are not combined with sufficient academic
coursework.
However I am directing my Administration to work with
the author so that I can consider a measure that is
more tightly crafted and would accomplish the goal of
promoting a balanced approach towards work-based
learning.
Until that time, I am unable to sign this bill.
Analysis Prepared by: Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916)
319-2087
FN: 0002152