BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 790|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 790
Author: Furutani (D) and Carter (D)
Amended: 7/6/11 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 7-1, 6/29/11
AYES: Lowenthal, Alquist, Blakeslee, Hancock, Liu, Price,
Simitian
NOES: Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Runner, Vargas, Vacancy
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 6-3, 8/25/11
AYES: Kehoe, Alquist, Lieu, Pavley, Price, Steinberg
NOES: Walters, Emmerson, Runner
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 54-20, 6/1/11 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Career technical education: linked learning
SOURCE : Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom
Torlakson
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
DIGEST : This bill establishes, commencing with the
2012-13 school year, the Linked Learning Pilot Program to
be administered by the California Department of Education
according to specified requirements for the purpose of
implementing district-wide linked learning programs in all
participating school districts, requires the Superintendent
of Public Instruction (SPI) to report on the program to the
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Legislature and the Governor, as specified, and to use
existing state and federal resources to implement the
pilot.
ANALYSIS : Existing law defines "multiple pathway
programs" as multiyear, comprehensive high school programs
of integrated academic and technical study that are
organized around a broad theme, interest area, or industry
sector, and provide curriculum choices that prepare
participating pupils for a range of postsecondary options,
including two and four-year colleges, apprenticeships, and
formal employment training. Existing law specifies that
multiple pathway programs are comprised, among other
things, of an integrated core curriculum that meets the
eligibility requirements for admission to the University of
California (UC) and the California State University (CSU)
and is delivered through project-based learning and other
engaging instructional strategies.
Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (SPI) to develop, in conjunction with specified
entities, a report that explores the feasibility of
expanding and establishing multiple pathway programs; and
requires the report to include specified components,
including, but not limited to, methods for developing and
sharing models of integrated curriculum and instruction,
strategies for increasing the course options and
instructional time for pupils in high school, and
recommendations for supporting regional coalitions in
planning and developing the programs.
Existing law provides for various career technical
education (CTE) programs including Regional Occupational
Centers and Programs (ROC/Ps) and California Partnership
Academies (CPAs) for the purpose of motivating students to
stay in school and graduate with the skills necessary to
advance into postsecondary education, apprenticeships, or
the workforce. CPAs primarily serve students in grades
10-12 who present a high risk of dropping out of school,
and function as a school within a school, providing
career-themed educational programs that integrate core
academic content and technical education.
This bill:
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1.Makes findings and declarations regarding the challenges
the State faces in public high school reform and the
need to produce an educated and career-ready workforce.
Finds that California must embrace new, innovative
approaches to educational transformation that are likely
to lead to successful outcomes for pupils, families,
communities, and local and state economies; finds that
California operates a variety of effective career
technical education programs and continues to evolve the
options to meet economic demand; finds that the linked
learning is one of the most promising high school
transformational strategies and can be expanded to play
a pivotal role in enabling pupils to be well prepared
for life and workforce demands in a 21st century global
economy and society.
2.Amends and updates Education Code Section 52372.5 to
replace the term "multiple pathways" with the term
"linked learning programs" thereby defining linked
learning programs in statute.
3.Establishes, commencing with the 2012-13 school year,
the Linked Learning Pilot Program for the purpose of
implementing districtwide linked learning programs in
participating districts.
4.Requires the Linked Learning Methodology Pilot Program
to be administered by the California Department of
Education (CDE) and contain all of the following
requirements:
A. Each participating school district shall
incorporate small-sized schools and smaller groupings
of pupils within new and existing high schools.
B. The implementation of rigorous linked learning
programs of study that guide pupils through course
sequences leading to mastery of standards, high
school graduation, and transition to postsecondary
education or employment; specifies that the programs
shall include career technical education courses as
defined by the California State Plan for CTE.
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C. Policies and agreements adopted by participating
school districts that promote concurrent enrollment
and dual credit with community colleges and
universities.
D. Problem-based instructional methodologies, inquiry
learning approaches, and applied learning strategies
adopted within all subject areas.
E. Pupil progress through high school determined by
mastery of grade-level standards-based performance
benchmarks developed by the participating district.
F. Requires participating school districts to
implement linked learning programs within the
district's existing state and local resources.
G. Requires participating school districts to involve
local business, labor, parent, and community partners
to advise the district on the development,
implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the pilot
program.
5.Authorizes school districts maintaining any of grades 9
to 12 inclusive, to apply to the SPI to operate a Linked
Learning Pilot Program. Requires the CDE to review the
applications and authorizes the SPI to approve no more
than 20 applications.
6.Requires the review and approval of applications to be
conducted on a competitive basis; requires applicant
districts to demonstrate a plan to implement the
components of a linked learning methodology, as
specified. Requires the CDE to give consideration to
factors related to geographic diversity, type, and size
of a school district, and to the extent to which a pilot
program would receive financial and in-kind support from
the business and civic community or funding from
government or foundation grants.
7.Requires the SPI, should funds become available for the
pilot program, to allocate the funs on a competitive
basis to applicant school districts based on the
applications submitted.
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8.Requires, on or before September 30, 2016, the SPI to
transmit a report to the Legislature and the Governor
that documents an evaluation that includes:
A. The costs and merits of the pilot program, pupil
outcome data that includes, but is not limited to,
pupil dropout and graduation rates, the number and
percentages of participating pupils who meet the
requirements and prerequisites for admission to
California public postsecondary institutions, and
workforce outcome data, that which may include the
number or percentage of pupils who earn a
certificate, license, or the equivalent in a designed
occupation.
B. Recommendations regarding the need for additional
statutory changes to facilitate the statewide
expansion of the pilot program.
9.Requires the report submitted to be in compliance with
Government Code Section 9795 and specifies the SPI may
develop regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this section.
10.Requires the SPI to use existing state and federal
resources to implement the provisions of this section.
11.Specifies the statute becomes inoperative on July 1,
2017, and is repealed on January 1, 2018, unless a later
enacted statute deletes or extends the operative and
repeal dates.
Comments
Need for the bill . AB 2648 (Bass), Chapter 681, Statutes
of 2008, required the SPI to develop a report that explores
the feasibility of expanding and establishing career
multiple pathway programs in California. The report was to
be developed in conjunction with the Office of the
Secretary for Education, the community colleges, the UC,
and the CSU, the Legislature, the Employment Development
Department, teachers, chamber organizations, industry
representatives, research centers, parents, school
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administrators, representatives of regional occupational
centers and programs, community-based organizations, labor
organizations, and others as appropriate. The "Multiple
Pathways to Student Success" report contained a number of
findings about the characteristics and effectiveness of
multiple pathway programs and made recommendations about
establishing a multiple pathway approach to career
technical education in California schools. The AB 2648
report noted that multiple pathways programs appear to
offer promise in helping students prepare for a wide range
of postsecondary and career opportunities, and cited
research indicating that such programs have shown positive
effects on student achievement, educational attainment, and
employment and earnings outcomes.
According to the author's office, this bill is a "direct
response to the AB 2648 report and builds off the successes
identified in the report and resolve issues that make it
challenging for multiple pathway programs to thrive as a
model of school improvement. The intent is for each pilot
high school to operate within a construct of greater
flexibility with existing programmatic and fiscal
resources. The bill establishes a non-funded pilot program
for the purpose of implementing districtwide linked
learning approaches in high schools.
Branding . Over the past few years, the California Center
for College and Career (ConnectEd), together with a
coalition of education, community organizations, and
industry have promoted the concept of expanding access to
multiple pathways programs that connect learning in the
classroom with real-world applications outside of school.
These programs integrate academic instruction with
technical curriculum and work-based learning within the
context of industry sectors identified in the model
curriculum standards for career technical education adopted
by the State Board of Education. AB 2648 established a
statutory definition for multiple pathway programs and
required the SPI to report on the feasibility of expanding
the availability of these programs in California high
schools.
In 2009, ConnectEd, members of the Multiple Pathways
Coalition, and the James Irvine Foundation, began
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discussing the need to transition away from the term
"multiple pathways" in order to avoid confusion with
programs in other states that provide alternative education
routes for out-of-school youth and students who are at most
risk of failing to graduate from high school. According to
ConnectEd, that concept also dominates perceptions of
"multiple pathways" in Washington D.C. and many parts of
the national philanthropic community. ConnectEd and the
supporters of these programs maintain that the name "Linked
Learning" more clearly conveys the attributes of an
educational approach that helps students link what they
learn in the classroom with real-world experiences and
career preparation.
New unfunded pilot program . ConnectEd has developed and is
managing the California Linked Learning District
Initiative, and with funding from the James Irvine
Foundation, has provided grants to 11 California school
districts that have developed master plans for expanding
linked learning in their high schools. The purpose of this
program is to help districts develop systems of pathways
that are accessible to any high school student in the
district.
According to the author's office, the purpose of this bill
is to establish a pilot program that will enable 20
districts to use their existing state and federal resources
to implement linked learning approaches in their high
schools.
Related and Prior Legislation
AB 1304 (Block), 2011-12 Session, defines linked learning
and authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to
convene a workgroup to develop program standards for the
issuance of a recognition of study in linked learning, as
defined, for linked learning competence for holders of a
single subject teaching credential who will be teaching
pupils enrolled in linked learning programs. (To Governor)
AB 1223 (Block), 2009-10 Session, would have defined linked
learning to mean multiple pathway programs and would have
authorized the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to
convene a workgroup to develop standards for programs that
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prepare candidates to teach in linked learning programs.
Passed the Senate with a vote of 21-11 on August 23, 2010.
The bill was subsequently vetoed by Governor
Schwarzenegger, whose veto message read: "This bill would
authorize the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to
convene a workgroup to develop program standards for the
purpose of establishing some "recognition of study" for
linked learning competence for credentialed teachers.
Nothing under current law prohibits the CTC from convening
any workgroup without statutory
authority. Therefore, this bill is unnecessary."
AB 2172 (Carter), 2009-10 Session, would have required the
SPI to convene an advisory board composed of leaders from
education, business, labor, civic organizations, and the
community to review the recommendations of the AB 2648
report and advise the SPI on the implementation issues.
(Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee)
AB 2445 (Furutani), 2009-10 Session, would have required
the SPI, by December 31 of each year, to report to the
Legislature on the status of the advisory board proposed to
be established pursuant to AB 2172 (Carter), 2009-10
Session, to review recommendations of the AB 2648 report.
(Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee)
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13
2013-14 Fund
Pilot program substantial ongoing cost
pressureGeneral*
CDE administration Cost pressure:
$71$71General
*Counts toward meeting the Proposition 98 minimum funding
guarantee
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SUPPORT : (Verified 8/29/11)
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
(co-source)
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (co-source)
America's Edge
California Association of Leaders for Career Preparation
California School Boards Association
California State PTA
Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Metropolitan Education District
Public Advocates
R.E.A.L. Coalition
Regional Economic Association Leaders of California
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to one of the sponsors,
the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, "Providing
engaging environments for students will undoubtedly result
in increased student performance allow students and school
districts to thrive. Our schools must keep up with the
changing technology and economy to help maintain California
as one of the largest economies in the world."
According to the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, "AB 790
establishes a Linked Learning high school pilot program
that would allow participating districts to implement a
district-wide Linked Learning approach in all high schools,
incorporating strategies such as small schools,
problem-based instruction methods and applied learning
throughout all subject areas. Linked Learning transforms
students' high school experience by bringing together
strong academics, demanding technical education and
real-world experience to help students gain an advantage in
high school, postsecondary education and careers. Used in
schools throughout California, this integrated approach
helps students build a strong foundation for success in
college, career and life."
In support, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom states,
"During these challenging economic times, it is imperative
that California remain at the forefront of educational
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innovation in order to remain globally competitive. by
equipping our students with the necessary skills and
resources, we will come closer to meeting our future
postsecondary education and workforce demands. Programs
such as multiple pathways/linked learning transform the
high school experience by integrating a rigorous academic
program and real world experience in fields such as,
engineering, arts and media, and biomedical and health
science. Moreover, the multiple-pathways/linked learning
approach expose students to an exciting and challenging
learning environment that prepared them to pursue multiple
options after high school."
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 54-20, 6/1/11
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall,
Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos,
Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Davis, Dickinson, Eng, Feuer,
Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Galgiani, Gatto,
Gordon, Hall, Hayashi, Roger Hern�ndez, Hill, Huber,
Hueso, Huffman, Lara, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza,
Mitchell, Monning, Pan, Perea, Portantino, Skinner,
Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada,
John A. P�rez
NOES: Conway, Cook, Donnelly, Beth Gaines, Grove, Hagman,
Halderman, Harkey, Jones, Knight, Logue, Mansoor, Miller,
Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Norby, Olsen, Valadao, Wagner
NO VOTE RECORDED: Garrick, Gorell, Jeffries, V. Manuel
P�rez, Silva, Smyth
CPM:mw 8/29/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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