BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2211
Page 1
CORRECTED - 06/02/2010 Technical change (Member name)
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2211 (Fuentes)
As Amended April 13, 2010
2/3 vote. Urgency
EDUCATION 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Brownley, Nestande, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |
| |Ammiano, Arambula, | | |
| |Carter, Chesbro, Norby, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Torlakson | |Calderon, Coto, |
| | | |Davis, Monning, Ruskin, |
| | | |Harkey, |
| | | |Miller, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Torrico |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Allows school districts to provide work-based learning
opportunities for pupils through existing programs such as
partnership academies, regional occupational programs (ROPs), and
other career technical education (CTE) programs and states that
high quality work-based learning experiences may include, but are
not limited to, specified components and characteristics.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes various findings and declarations related to work-based
learning, and 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.
2)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, and 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
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work-based learning.
3)Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), in
conjunction with specified education stakeholders, to develop
principles and guidelines for the establishment of work-based
learning programs and consider existing guidelines or
regulations relative to relevant programs and the most current
academic and career technical education standards.
4)Authorizes the State Board of Education (SBE) and the SPI for
purposes of completing these principles and guidelines to use
existing federal and state funds or to apply for and accept
grants and receive donations, or other financial support from
public or private sources.
5)Encourages school districts offering work-based learning to
provide information to local transportation agencies regarding
existing schools offering work-based learning opportunities and
participating industry worksites and to submit to the California
Department of Education (CDE) work-based learning best practices
and specific examples of work-based learning offered by the
district.
6)Encourages school districts to work with local workforce
investment board youth councils to maximize the use of available
resources for youth employment opportunities.
7)Adds an urgency clause allowing this measure to become effective
immediately upon enactment.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, General Fund administrative costs, likely between
$125,000 and $200,000, to the SPI to develop principles and
guidelines for the establishment of work-based learning programs.
This measure authorizes the SPI to use grant funding or public
donations to complete the principles and guidelines, as specified.
COMMENTS : 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
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systematically reinforce both academic and technical content, and
the approach requires active involvement of industry partners and
teachers to coordinate the curriculum. Work-based learning can
take the form of internships, apprenticeships, workplace
simulations, and other opportunities in the business or nonprofit
arena.
Previous bills relative to work-based learning have been vetoed by
the Governor. The last veto message notes the lack of "sufficient
protections to ensure that students are not solely enrolled in job
opportunities that are not combined with sufficient academic
coursework." This bill is different from the prior bills in that
it includes a requirement for the SPI to develop principles and
guidelines for the delivery of work-based learning, as specified,
and to consider existing guidelines and regulations that have been
developed for similar programs.
Prior legislation: AB 332 (Fuentes) of 2009 would have allowed
school districts to provide work-based learning opportunities for
pupils through existing programs such as partnership academies and
ROPs. AB 332 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger with the
following 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.
AB 2078 (Fuentes) of 2008 would have provided that work-based
learning opportunities for pupils may be delivered through
existing programs such as partnership academies and regional
occupational programs (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
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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."
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avina / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN:
0004557