BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2211
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2211 (Fuentes)
As Amended August 19, 2010
2/3 vote. Urgency
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(June 1, 2010) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 23, |
| | | | | |2010) |
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Original Committee Reference: ED.
SUMMARY : Allows school districts to provide work-based learning
opportunities for pupils through existing specified programs.
Specifically, this bill :
1)States that high quality work-based learning experiences may
include, but are not limited to, specified components and
characteristics, and authorizes regional and local business
organizations, in conjunction with school districts and
community colleges, and any other representatives deemed
appropriate, to develop principles and guidelines for the
establishment of work-based learning programs.
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 work-based learning.
3)Amends the definition of "sufficient textbooks or
instructional materials" to state that instructional materials
may be in a digital format as long as each pupil, at a
minimum, has and can access the same materials in the class
and to take home, as all other pupils in the same class or
course in the district and has the ability to use and access
them at home.
The Senate amendments :
1)Delete the requirement for the Superintendent of Public
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Instruction (SPI), in conjunction with specified education
stakeholders, to develop principles and guidelines for the
establishment of work-based learning programs and to consider
existing guidelines or regulations relative to relevant
programs and the most current academic and career technical
education (CTE) standards.
2)Delete the authority for the State Board of Education (SBE)
and the SPI 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 for purposes
of completing the principles and guidelines.
3)Authorize regional and local business organizations, in
conjunction with school districts and community colleges, and
any other representatives deemed appropriate, to develop
principles and guidelines for the establishment of work-based
learning programs, as specified.
4)Specify that if such organizations develop principles and
guidelines pursuant to this bill, the following shall occur:
a) The organizations shall consider existing guidelines or
regulations relative to the programs specified in this
bill, the state's most recent CTE plan, and the most
current academic and CTE standards adopted by the SBE; and,
b) The guidelines shall include specific guidance to school
districts and community colleges on ensuring that a pupil's
workplace learning opportunities are linked directly to
academic learning objectives and provide the necessary
skills for the pupil to use in future employment or
postsecondary education opportunities.
5)Specify that school districts and community colleges that
receive funding to provide CTE programs pursuant to the
Quality Education Investment Act of 2006 (QEIA) may include a
work-based learning component in these programs.
6)Delete language encouraging for 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
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specific examples of work-based learning offered by the
district.
7)Amend the definition of "sufficient textbooks or instructional
materials" to state that instructional materials may be in a
digital format as long as each pupil, at a minimum, has and
can access the same materials in the class and to take home,
as all other pupils in the same class or course in the
district and has the ability to use and access them at home.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill:
1)Required the SPI, in conjunction with specified education
stakeholders, to develop principles and guidelines for the
establishment of work-based learning programs by considering
existing guidelines or regulations relative to relevant
programs and the most current academic and CTE standards.
2)Authorized the 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.
3)Encouraged 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 CDE
work-based learning best practices and specific examples of
work-based learning offered by the district.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, minor costs associated with technical assistance for
the guidelines.
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 systematically reinforce both academic and technical content,
and the approach requires active involvement of industry
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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." As amended, this bill is
different from the prior bills in that it includes the authority
for specified organizations 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.
Sufficient textbooks or instructional materials: Current law
requires all schools to provide "each pupil, including English
learners" with "a standards-aligned textbook or instructional
materials, or both, to use in class and to take home." As
amended, this bill also clarifies that to satisfy the existing
instructional materials "sufficiency" requirement, the materials
may be in a digital format as long as pupils have access to
those materials at school and at home. The intent is to ensure
that all pupils have adequate access to instructional materials
even if a school or district chooses to adopt digital
instructional materials.
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
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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 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: 0006585