BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 515
AUTHOR: Hancock
INTRODUCED: February 26, 2009
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: April 1, 2009
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Beth Graybill
NOTE: This bill has been referred to the Committees on
Education and Business, Professions and Economic Development.
A "do pass' motion should include referral to the Committee
on Business, Professions and Economic Development.
SUBJECT : Career Technical Education: Carl D. Perkins
Vocational and Applied
Technology Education Act
SUMMARY:
This bill requires schools and community colleges that
receive funds from the Perkins Act to demonstrate that at
least half of sequenced career technical education courses
are linked to regional or state high priority workforce
needs.
BACKGROUND
Existing law establishes various career technical education
(CTE) programs for public schools including but not limited
to regional occupational centers and programs (ROC/P),
partnership academies, adult education programs, and career
technical education programs in secondary and postsecondary
institutions.
Existing federal law, the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Improvement Act, provides federal funds
to states for the purpose of improving CTE programs,
integrating academic and technical curriculum, serving
special populations and meeting gender equity needs.
Existing state law establishes various conditions for
receiving funds provided under the Carl D. Perkins Act.
Existing law requires on or before July 1, 2010, the
governing board of each ROC/P to ensure that at least 90
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percent of all state-funded courses offered in those centers
or programs, as specified, are part of course sequences that
target comprehensive skills.
Existing law classifies counties on the basis of average
daily attendance. For example, Class One counties have an
average daily attendance of 750,000 and over; Class Eight
counties have average daily attendance of less than 1,000
students.
The California Workforce Investment Board (WIB) was
established by Executive Order in response to mandates of the
federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The WIB determines
strategic priorities, identifies high-growth industries,
develops a workforce investment budget, and establishes local
workforce investment areas across the state. California has
50 local Workforce Investment Boards.
ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a new condition for receiving federal
funds from the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied
Technology Education Act of 1998. Specifically, this bill:
1) Requires by January 1, 2012, school districts, regional
occupational centers or programs, and community college
districts to demonstrate that at least half of the
course sequences offered for students in grades 9 to 12
inclusive, are linked to high priority workforce needs
as identified by the State Department of Labor and
Workforce Development for the State of California or for
the economic region where the ROC/P, community college
district, or school district is located.
2) Exempts school districts and regional occupational
centers or programs that operate in a rural county of
the sixth, seventh, or eighth class (counties with an
average daily attendance less than 15,000) and school
districts with an average daily attendance of fewer than
500 pupils from the requirements of the bill. The bill
encourages exempted programs to work with local
workforce investment boards to ensure students enrolled
in CTE programs obtain skills linked to regional
workforce needs.
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STAFF COMMENTS
1) Regional Occupational Centers and Programs . ROC/Ps
provide high school students 16 years of age and older,
and also adult students, with valuable career and
technical education so students can (1) enter the
workforce with skills and competencies to be successful,
(2) pursue advanced training in postsecondary
educational institutions; or (3) upgrade existing skills
and competencies.
2) What's the problem ? ROC/Ps are required to consult with
advisory committees composed of local business and
industry representatives on local employment
opportunities, curriculum, and program operation. Local
governing boards are required to review CTE programs to
assure that courses and programs meet documented labor
demand and don't duplicate other job training skills
programs in the local area. While this bill could
provide for more strategic use of state and federal
resources, it is unclear whether we have enough
information about the need for that increased
efficiency. Could the requirements of the measure
reduce flexibility districts or county offices of
education need to meet the academic
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needs/interests of students enrolled in CTE courses,
develop multiple pathway programs, or meet local
business needs even if they haven't been identified as
high priority workforce need? Could this bill result in
the elimination of programs that may not be addressing
high priority workforce needs but keep students engaged
in school or need more time to adapt when workforce
needs change?
To enable the Legislature to determine whether the
conditions SB 515 would impose are necessary, staff
recommends amendments to 1) require the CDE and the
Community College Chancellor's Office to report to the
Legislature by September 1, 2010, on the number and
proportion of CTE courses that meet state or local high
priority workforce needs as defined in SB 515, and 2)
postpone the implementation due date to July 1, 2012.
3) Regional economic needs . The California Labor and
Workforce Development Agency has published a report on
California's economic profile and has designated nine
economic regions of the state for purposes of
identifying workforce needs and to aid local Workforce
Investment Boards develop and address economic
development strategies closely related to the unique
needs of each region.
4) Related legislation . SB 515 is part of a package of
bills aimed at linking the state's public education
system to workforce needs in current and future
economies. SB 675 (Steinberg) establishes a Green Jobs
Fund to establish CTE pathway programs beginning in
middle school. SB 471 (Romero and Steinberg) calls for
stem cell biology education to expose and prepare
students for career paths in the field of regenerative
medicine. SB 747 (Romero) creates a pilot program for
CTE curriculum to address the needs of the aerospace
industry; and SB 43 (Alquist) improves data collection
and availability to develop medical profession pathway
programs.
5) Prior legislation . SB 2448 (Hancock, Chapter 572, 2006)
made various changes to the operation and administration
of ROC/Ps and required that at least 90% of state-funded
courses offered by ROC/Ps are part of course sequences
that target high demand occupations. SB1197 (Alquist,
Chapter 519, 2008) required ROC/Ps established and
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maintained pursuant to a joint powers agreement receive
operating funds directly from the county office of
education in which it is located.
6) Hidden mandate ? Although the Legislative Counsel has
not keyed this bill as a state-mandated program, staff
notes that because ROC/Ps are dependent on federal funds
from the Perkins Act to deliver CTE courses, the
requirements of this bill could be viewed as a state
mandate.
7) Technical amendment . Staff recommends amendments to
change the reference to the Perkins Act to the correct
and current title of the Act: The Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Improvement Act.
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SUPPORT
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO
OPPOSITION
None received.