BILL NUMBER: AB 2211	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fuentes

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2010

   An act to amend Section 51760 of, and to add Section 51760.1 to,
the Education Code, relating to work-based learning, and declaring
the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2211, as introduced, Fuentes. Work-based learning.
   Existing law 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.
   This bill would state the findings of the Legislature regarding
work-based learning, as defined. This bill would authorize school
districts that maintain high schools to establish work-based learning
programs, and to purchase liability insurance for pupils enrolled in
programs of study involving work-based learning, off school grounds.
The bill would authorize partnership academies, regional
occupational programs, and other educational programs to deliver
work-based learning opportunities for pupils that may include work
experience education, community classrooms, cooperative career
technical education programs, and job shadowing experience, as
specified. The bill would require the State Board of Education,
pursuant to recommendations made by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, to adopt model standards in work-based learning. The
bill would encourage school districts to submit specified information
relating to work based learning to the department, and would
encourage the department to post this information on its Internet Web
site.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Public secondary education prepares pupils for success after
high school, including further education and training without
remediation, productive employment with opportunities for
advancement, and civic participation.
   (b) Well-designed education programs intentionally combine
rigorous college preparatory education with demanding career
technical education, both of which are supported by high-quality
work-based learning and necessary support services that promote
success.
   (c) Work-based learning is an essential component of any
comprehensive educational program of study. It brings meaning and
relevance to the educational program.
   (d) Work-based learning offers opportunities to learn through
real-world experience. Pupils gain access to job shadowing,
mentorships, intensive internships, real or virtual apprenticeships,
and school-based enterprises. These experiences complement classroom
instruction and help sharpen the desire of pupils to increase
knowledge and skills that are relevant to their postsecondary and
career interests.
   (e) Work-based learning is currently provided to pupils through
existing programs, including, but not limited to, work experience,
cooperative vocational education, regional occupational programs, and
community classrooms.
   (f) High-quality work-based learning includes systematic attention
to the development of 21st century skills, such as communication,
problem solving, teamwork, project planning, and critical thinking.
   (g) Furthermore, work-based learning allows pupils to work side by
side with adult professionals who help instill professional
behavior, real-world expectations, a strong work ethic, the need for
ongoing learning, and a desire to achieve.
   (h) High-quality work-based learning experiences share the
following characteristics:
   (1) Prioritization of learning over work production.
   (2) Exposure to a wide range of career areas and worksites in
order to help youth make informed choices about education, training
options, and career pursuits.
   (3) Thoughtful placement of pupils into opportunities that are
evaluated for their safety, qualified supervision, and learning
opportunities.
   (4) Appropriate sequencing of experiences based upon the pupil's
age and maturity, ranging from site visits and tours, job shadowing,
unpaid and paid internships, and paid work experience.
   (5) Explicit aim to supplement, or systematically reinforce,
classroom instruction in technical courses, academic courses, or
both.
   (6) A trained workplace mentor who works in collaboration with a
classroom teacher to structure the learning at the worksite.
   (7) Built-in regular assessment and feedback.
   (8) Involvement of youth in choosing and structuring the
experience.
   (9) Clear and measurable learning outcomes.
   (i) Work-based learning may take many forms, including, but not
limited to, job shadowing, internships, work experience, community
classrooms, real or virtual apprenticeships, and school-based
enterprises.
  SEC. 2.  Section 51760 of the Education Code is amended to read:
   51760.  The governing board of  any   a 
district maintaining a high school may  do all of the following
 :
   (a) Provide for the instruction of pupils in the skills,
attitudes, and understandings necessary to  success 
 succeed  in employment by means of courses of 
work-based learning or  work experience education as provided in
this article.
   (b) Provide for guidance and supervision procedures designed to
 insure   ensure  maximum educational
benefit to  students   pupils  from
placement in suitable  work-based learning or  work
experience education courses.
   (c) Provide for arranging, approving, coordinating, and awarding
credit for  work-based learning or  work experience
education courses, and for those purposes employ instructors,
coordinators, and other necessary personnel.
   (d) Provide for the district to purchase liability insurance for
 students   pupils  enrolled in programs of
study involving work experience , which may include work-based
learning,  or vocational education at locations off school
grounds approved by the governing board, or require  students
  pupils  to purchase insurance and to pass on all
or a portion of the costs, at the discretion of the governing board,
to the district.
  SEC. 3.  Section 51760.1 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   51760.1.  (a) Work-based learning opportunities for pupils may be
delivered by partnership academies conducted pursuant to Article 5
(commencing with Section 54690) of Chapter 9 of Part 29, regional
occupational programs, as defined in Section 52303, and other
educational programs, and may include, but are not limited to, work
experience education, as defined in Section 51764, community
classrooms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 52372.1,
cooperative career technical education programs, as defined in
subdivision (b) of Section 52372.1, and job shadowing experience, as
defined in subdivision (b) of Section 51769.
   (b) Notwithstanding any other law, school districts opting to
offer work-based learning opportunities to pupils shall ensure that,
when applicable, pupils are afforded the same statutory and
regulatory safeguards as pupils in work experience programs.
   (c) For purposes of this section, "work-based learning" means an
educational approach or instructional methodology that uses the
workplace or real work to provide pupils with the knowledge and
skills that will help them connect school experiences to real-life
work activities and future career opportunities. When feasible,
work-based learning should be an integral part of a more
comprehensive pathway program that integrates challenging academic
courses and demanding career technical education.
   (d) High-quality work-based learning may include, but is not
limited to, any of the following:
   (1) Emphasis on learning in the workplace.
   (2) Exposure to a wide range of career areas and worksites in
order to help youth make informed choices about education, training
options, and career pursuits.
   (3) Thoughtful placement of pupils into opportunities that are
evaluated for their safety, qualified supervision, and learning
opportunities.
   (4) Appropriate sequencing of experiences based upon the pupil's
age and maturity, ranging from site visits and tours, job shadowing,
unpaid and paid internships, and paid work experience.
   (5) Explicit aim to supplement, or systematically reinforce,
classroom instruction in technical courses, academic courses, or
both.
   (6) Systematic attention to the development of 21st century
skills, such as communication, problem solving, teamwork, project
planning, and critical thinking.
   (7) A trained mentor who structures the learning at the worksite.
   (8) Coordination between the classroom teacher and the workplace
mentor or supervisor.
   (9) Built-in regular assessment and feedback.
   (10) Involvement of youth in choosing and structuring the
experience.
   (11) Clear and measurable learning outcomes.
   (e) The state board shall develop model content standards,
pursuant to recommendations made by the Superintendent, for
work-based learning. These standards shall be aligned with the most
current academic and career technical education standards adopted by
the state board. For purposes of completing these standards the
Superintendent and state board may use existing federal and state
funds. If federal or state funds are not available or sufficient, the
Superintendent and state board may apply for and accept grants and
receive donations, or other financial support from public or private
sources for purposes of this subdivision.
   (f) School districts offering work-based learning are encouraged
to provide information to local transportation agencies about the
location of pupil work-based learning worksites.
   (g) School districts are encouraged to work with local workforce
investment board youth councils to facilitate work-based learning
regional planning.
   (h) School districts offering work-based learning are encouraged
to submit to the department work-based learning best practices and
specific examples of work-based learning offered by the district. The
department is encouraged to post this information on its Internet
Web site for the purpose of informing school districts about
work-based learning.
  SEC. 4.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
   Because of current economic conditions and lack of education
funding, public and private partnerships are necessary for pupils to
learn relevant skills inside and outside the classroom and because
work-based learning has proven to engage pupils very effectively in
preparation for higher education and the workplace, it is necessary
that this act take effect immediately.