BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1354
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 4, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 1354 (Hancock) - As Amended: August 2, 2010
Policy Committee: Education Vote:8-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill modifies instructional requirements and pupil
enrollment criteria for partnership academy (PA) programs.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Adds the following criteria in order to determine a pupil
"at-risk" for enrollment in PA programs: (a) scores below
basic in math and English language arts on the California
Standards Tests and (b) a grade point average of 2.2 or below,
or the equivalent of a C minus.
2)Authorizes up to one-half of pupils enrolled in a PA to not be
"at-risk."
3)Requires a school district to provide assurances the pupil,
where possible, will be provided with courses that meet the
subject requirements for admission to the California State
University and the University of California.
4)Requires a school district to provide assurances the pupil
will receive instruction in career technical education (CTE)
courses offered at each grade level at the academy that are
part of an occupational course sequence, as specified.
5)Requires school districts, whenever practical, to provide a
second planning period for lead teachers.
FISCAL EFFECT
GF/98 cost pressure, likely between $125,000 and $200,000, to
current PA programs to implement the requirements of this
measure. To the extent that PA programs are already performing
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these duties, this cost may be reduced.
The governor's proposed January 2010 budget provides a total of
$56.8 million GF/98 for PA programs. Of this amount, $38
million GF/98 is annually appropriated pursuant to SB 1133
(Torlakson), Chapter 751, Statutes of 2006. Also, AB 519
(Committee on Budget), Chapter 757, Statues of 2007, allocated
$12.5 million GF/98 (one-time) for the operation of PAs focusing
on green technologies and industries over three years.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . A PA is a three-year program, grades 10-12,
structured as a school-within-a-school. Academies incorporate
many features of the high school reform movement that include
creating a close family-like atmosphere, integrating academic
and CTE, and establishing viable business partnerships.
Emphasis is also placed on student achievement and positive
post secondary outcomes as well as the integration of a
standards-based academic and career technical curriculum.
According to the State Department of Education (SDE), there
are approximately 500 PA programs operating in the state.
According to the author, "While many academies have [course]
sequences in place, there is a lack of consistency across the
programs. By requiring sequences, students will be able to
provide certificates of skills attained while in the academy -
to employers or to community colleges/higher education. This
requirement will also bring PAs to the same expectation as
ROC/Ps and programs funded with federal Perkins money."
The author also states the definition of an "at-risk pupil"
"has not been updated since the 1990s. [This bill, sponsored
by SDE,] will give districts additional indicators to consider
when identifying at risk students for purposes of compliance
with the intent of the program to engage students who are at
risk of dropping out by having the academy option."
2)Should this bill take effect in the middle of a school year ?
SDE, sponsor of this bill, argues the proposed changes are
already being implemented by the majority of PA programs. If
this bill were signed, the provisions of this measure,
particularly related to course sequence and enrollment of
at-risk students, would take effect in January 2011 - after
the beginning of the school year. If PA programs are not
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currently implementing these changes, it would force them to
implement this bill in the middle of the school year. The
committee recommends the author amend this measure to become
operative at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.
3)Existing law requires at least half of each new PA class to
meet specific "at-risk" criteria to determine student
eligibility. The remaining one half has no restrictions.
Statute determines a pupil to be "at risk" because he or she
is at risk of dropping out of school, as indicated by at least
three of the following criteria: (a) past record of
attendance; (b) past record of underachievement in which the
pupil is at least one year behind the coursework for the
respective grade level; (c) past record of motivation; and (d)
disadvantaged economically. This bill proposes to add to the
criteria a pupil's academic performance.
Current law also requires PA teachers to have a common
planning period to meet regularly to plan program activities
and curriculum; coordinate with business representatives; and
discuss pupil progress.
4)CTE course sequences . The career technical focus for PAs is
determined by an analysis of the local labor market.
According to the SDE, "Career technical education is kept
broad, focusing on industries rather than specific jobs in
areas such as business technology, health, electronics, media,
agribusiness, building trades, natural resources, finance, and
retail trade. The integration of a standards-based academic
and career-technical curriculum is a key ingredient."
Many CTE programs offer a sequence of courses that enable the
pupil to qualify for some type of certificate upon completion
of the sequence. While PA programs are not required to offer
these sequences, anecdotal evidence indicates many do provide
this option to their pupils. This bill requires PA programs
to provide assurances the pupil will receive instruction in
CTE courses offered at each grade level that are part of an
occupational course sequence.
SB 1354
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Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)
319-2081