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Legislative Watch

Updated: June 7, 2010

ConnectEd seeks to inform state and local policy by conducting research studies, distributing reports, sharing expertise, and convening stakeholders. The bills listed below have potential to impact the expansion of Linked Learning in California high schools. Bills are grouped by the policy areas addressed in the ConnectEd policy guide (PDF, 64 KB). Since ConnectEd is not a lobbying organization, we do not formally support or oppose pending legislation.

Senate and Assembly Bills

Bill # Bill Summary Fiscal Author Sponsor Status
Support for Multiple Pathway/Linked Learning Development
ACR 88 STEM Task Force Establishes, until January 1, 2014, the California Task Force on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education for the purpose of advising the California Legislature on critical research, best practices, and models for building a future California workforce educated in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The taskforce would generate discussion on policy that would improve the teaching of these subject areas for the state's pupils, promoting the improvement of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education across the state. Non Fisc Assembly-member Torlakson Author Senate Education
SB 253 CTE Certificates Authorizes a school district or county office of education to offer a pupil a career technical education certificate if the pupil meets specified requirements, including completion of 4 technical education courses, a structured work-based learning experience, and a related culminating project. The bill would prohibit the award of a career technical education certificate awarded under the bill from being construed as equivalent to the award of a high school diploma or as a change to the statutory curriculum or compulsory education requirements. Non Fisc Senator Wyland Author Assembly Floor

Inactive File
SB 974 Career Pathways Investment Credit States the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to ensure that the state's tax expenditure investments are rigorously evaluated and to establish fiscal incentives, such as tax credits, that encourage California businesses to enter into partnerships with schools to strengthen education and develop career skills. The bill also authorizes a business entity that works to develop career pathways and related activities to receive a credit against existing taxes. The bill allows credits against qualified state sales and uses taxes, as provided on or after January 1, 2011. Fiscal Senator Steinberg Author Passed Approps

Senate Floor
SB 1354 California Partnership Academies Expands the criteria for determining whether a student is at-risk of dropping out of school, and would revise the requirements for the enrollment of pupils who are not at-risk. The bill also provides an annual cost-of-living increase to each academy in operation for 3 or more years. The bill also requires school districts to provide an assurance that each academy student will be provided with career technical courses in each grade level that are part of an occupational course sequence that targets comprehensive skills, and meets certain other requirements. Fiscal Senator Hancock Author Passed Senate Approps.

Senate Floor
SB 1444 STEM Education Defines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education as courses or a sequence of courses that prepare pupils for occupations and careers that require technically sophisticated skills, including the application of mathematical and scientific skills and concepts, as specified. Non Fisc Senator Hancock Author Passed Senate

Assembly Education
AB 2172 Multiple Pathway / Linked Learning Report Requires the Superintendent to convene an advisory group to review the recommendations of the Multiple Pathway feasibility report submitted pursuant to 52372.5 of Education Code, and to advise on the implementation of recommendations. Fiscal Assembly-member Carter LA Area Chamber/California Dept of Education HELD

Assembly Approps. Suspense
AB 2445 Multiple Pathway / Linked Learning Report Requires State Superintendent to report to the Legislature on the status of the advisory board to be established pursuant to AB 2172. Fiscal Assembly-member Furutani LA Area Chamber/California Dept of Education HELD

Assembly Approps. Suspense
AB 2721 Multiple Pathways Encourages school districts to fulfill college preparation and career technical education offering requirements by developing industry-focused multiple pathway programs. Non-Fisc Assembly-member Blakeslee Author Passed Assembly

Senate Education
AB 2306 Multiple Pathways Makes technical non-substantive changes to education code pertaining to multiple pathways. Non Fisc Assembly-member Blakeslee Author Assembly Rules
Curriculum and Instruction
SB 515 Career Technical Education Courses Requires, as a condition of receiving federal funds provided under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1998, and to the extent permitted under federal law, that school districts, regional occupational centers or programs, and community college districts demonstrate on or before July 1, 2013, that at least one-half of the course sequences offered for students are linked to high priority workforce needs in the career sectors identified by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for the State of California or for the economic region where the regional occupational center or program, community college district, or school district is located. Non Fisc Senator Hancock Author Assembly Floor

Inactive File
SB 1376 Aerospace Pre-Apprenticeship Program Creates a pilot pre-apprentice aerospace machining program administered by the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency to provide career technical education to high school pupils in the form of machining and related curriculum. Fiscal Senator Romero Author HELD Senate Approps.
AB 2437 Green Technology Training Appropriate $15,000,000 from the fund to the California Community Colleges for the purpose of providing green technology training through career technical and vocational programs. The bill also authorizes the Energy Commission to allocate to the California Community Colleges up to $15,000,000 from specified economic recovery funds received from the federal government in lieu of the appropriation from the fund. The bill requires that an amount equal to that allocation revert back to the fund if the Energy Commission makes that allocation. Fiscal Assembly-member M. Perez Author Assembly Rules
Work Based Learning
AB 2211 Work Based Learning Authorizes school districts that maintain high schools to establish work-based learning programs, and to purchase liability insurance for pupils enrolled in programs of study involving work-based learning, off school grounds. The bill also authorizes partnership academies, regional occupational programs, and other educational programs to deliver work-based learning opportunities for pupils that may include work experience education, community classrooms, cooperative career technical education programs, and job shadowing experience, as specified. The bill requires the Superintendent, in conjunction with specified education stakeholders, to develop principals and guidelines for the establishment of work-based learning programs. The bill also encourages school districts to submit specified information relating to work based learning to the department, and would encourage the department to post this information on its Internet Web site. Fiscal Assembly-member Fuentes Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Passed Assembly Approps.

Assembly Floor
SB 1358 School-to-Career Makes a technical, non-substantive change to these provisions. Non Fisc Senator Steinberg Author Senate Rules
AB 1707 Apprenticeships Makes non-substantive changes to the existing law promoting apprenticeship as a form of on-the-job training when such training is cost effective. Non Fisc Assembly-member Conway Author Assembly Rules
Support Services
SB 898 Small Schools After School Programs Establishes a minimum total direct After School Education and Safety Program grant for small schools, as specified. Fiscal Senator Ashburn Author HELD Senate Approps.
AB 2178 After School Programs Authorizes local educational agency grantees funded pursuant to the After School Education and Safety Program to submit specified data to each operator of an after school program. Fiscal Assembly-member Torlakson Author Passed Assembly Approps.

Assembly Floor
Teacher and Counselor Credentialing and Preparation
SB 956 California Teacher Paraprofessional Programs Requires the California Workforce Investment Board to allocate $5,000,000 of the federal Workforce Investment Act's reserve to local investment boards to allocate to school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools to provide intensive examination preparation courses for the purpose of retraining laid off and out-of-field teachers to met subject matter competency requirements. Fiscal Senator Romero Author Passed Senate Approps.

Senate Floor
AB 1223 Linked Learning Recognition of Study Defines "linked learning programs," and authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to convene a workgroup consisting of specified members to develop program standards for the issuance of a recognition of study, as defined, for linked learning competence for holders of a single subject teaching credential who will be teaching pupils enrolled in linked learning programs, as specified. The bill would authorize the commission to work with the Superintendent of Public Instruction to gather and post, on an appropriate Internet Web site, best practices from school districts and schools on curriculum development and professional development relating to implementing and sustaining multiple pathway programs. Fiscal Assembly-member Block Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Passed Assembly

Senate Education June 16
AB 2306 California STEM Teaching Fellowship Establishes the California Teaching Fellowship for the purpose of encouraging graduates of postsecondary institutions and professional with backgrounds in mathematics and science to teach in the fields of mathematics and science. Fiscal Assembly-member Blakeslee Author Assembly Education

Hearing cancelled at Request of Author
AB 2040 Teacher Credntialing Preparation Extends the deadline to Nov. 1, 2011 the existing requirement for CTC to have reported to the education policy committees in each house of the Legislature on the success of the integrated program of professional development toward preparing teacher candidates. Non Fisc Assembly-member Brownley Author Passed Assembly Approps.

Assembly Floor
Regional Support
SB 1270 Parent Empowerment Makes technical non-substantive changes to education code related to allowing parents to petition local educational agencies to implement one of several specified reforms for persistently low-performing schools. Non Fisc Senator Romero Author Senate Rules
SB 1315 Parent Empowerment States the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to parent empowerment. Non Fisc Senator Romero Author Senate Rules
State and Local Leadership
SB 1186 Education Governance Requires that the State Board of Education consist of 10 nonstudent appointees and reside in, distinct geographical areas of the state, reflect the ethnic and gender diversity of the state's population, and represent the various disciplines active in the public education system. The bill also eliminates the authority of the state board to establish statewide educational policy and issue rules and regulations for the governance of public elementary and secondary schools and instead provides that the state board, working with the Secretary of Education, whose office would be established by this bill, would advise the Governor on education policy. The bill also eliminates the requirement that the State Department of Education execute policies of the State Board of Education and instead defines the function of the Superintendent as ensuring the delivery of high-quality education to the pupils of the state who attend preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Fiscal Senator Liu Author HELD Senate Approps.
AB 2089 Education Governance Establishes the Education Governance Commission, composed of 12 members to be appointed as specified, and require the commission to convene on February 1, 2011, and meet until October 1, 2011, in order to create a plan for the governance of the state's public elementary and secondary school system. The bill would require the commission to complete and present its plan to the Legislature in time for legislative action during the 2nd year of the 2011-12 Regular Session of the Legislature. Fiscal Assembly-member Coto Author Assembly Rules
Scheduling and Instructional Time
SB 381 High School Graduation Requirements Prohibits a school district from adopting a graduation requirement that requires the completion of additional coursework to meet or exceed the requirements and prerequisites for admission to the California public institutions of postsecondary education unless the district also requires the completion of a sequence of at least 3 career technical education courses. However, this provision would not apply to a school district that, by June 30, 2009, has adopted graduation requirements that require the completion of all minimum coursework necessary to meet the requirements and prerequisites for admission to a 4-year California public university. Non Fisc Senator Wright Author Assembly Approps.

Two-year Bill
AB 2027 On-Line Education Beginning with the 2011-12 fiscal year, provides that school districts and county offices of education that offer online education courses may claim one day of attendance toward average daily attendance on the basis of the attendance at a class or classes in a classroom-based setting of a pupil taking at least one high-quality online course that satisfies prescribed criteria. Fiscal Assembly-member Blumenfield Author Passed Assembly Approps.

Assembly Floor
AB 2446 High School Graduation Requirements Adds to the current high school graduation requirements completion of a course in career technical education, as defined, as an alternative to the requirement that a pupil complete a course in visual or performing arts or foreign language. Non Fisc Assembly-member Furutani State Building Trades Passed Assembly Approps.
SB 1127 Education Expresses the Legislature's intent to enact legislation relating to public education. Non Fisc Senator Oropeza Author Senate Rules
SB 1144 Education Makes technical, non-substantive changes in education code provisions. Non Fisc Senator Wyland Author Senate Rules
SB 1145 Courses of Study Makes technical, non-substantive changes in education code related to elementary and secondary school courses of study. Non Fisc Senator Wyland Author Senate Rules
AB 1741 STEM High School Graduation Requirements Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, requires a pupil to complete 3 courses in mathematics, at least one of which meets or exceeds the rigor of the content standards for algebra II, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, or statistics and probability, as adopted by the state board and also requires a pupil to complete 3 courses in science, at least one of which meets or exceeds the rigor of the content standards for chemistry, engineering, physics, or computer science, as adopted by the state board. Fiscal Assembly-member Coto Silicon Valley Education Foundation Assembly Rules
AB 2359 Minimum School Day Makes technical, non-substantive changes in education code related to the 240 minute minimum school day. Non Fisc Assembly-member Conway Author Assembly Rules
Alignment with Post-Secondary Education
AB 35 Workforce Preparation This bill would require the California Postsecondary Education Commission to develop a strategic plan for connecting education and workforce development in the state. The bill would require the commission to cooperate with the State Department of Education, the California Workforce Investment Board, and representatives from education, business, and labor organizations to make specified recommendations in the strategic plan. The bill would require that the strategic plan include specified provisions. The bill would require the commission to report its recommendations for the strategic plan to the Governor and the Legislature on or before July 1, 2011. Yes Assembly-member Furutani Author Passed Assembly

Senate Education June 16
AB 1673 Adult Education Require the Legislative Analyst's Office, by January 1, 2012, to report to the Legislature on various issues concerning adult education program funding, as specified. Yes Assembly-member Mendoza Author Assembly Rules
AB 1901 Master Plan for Education Adds a needs assessment conducted by the Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education to the list of prescribed planning process. Fiscal Assembly-member Ruskin Author Passed Assembly

Senate Education
AB 1895 Master Plan for Education Makes technical, non-substantive changes to those expressions of legislative intent relative to attaining the goals of the Master Plan for Higher Education. Non Fisc Assembly-member Ruskin Author Assembly Rules
Assessment, Accountability and Evaluation
SB 1357 CALPADS Requires the department, contingent on federal funding for this purpose, to include data on pupil absences in CALPADS and would state the intent of the Legislature to support the development of early warning systems to identify and support individual pupils who are at risk of academic failure or of dropping out of school. Fiscal Senator Steinberg Author Passed Senate Approps.

Senate Floor
AB 2013 Alternative School Performance Includes independent study programs in the alternative schools for which the Superintendent is required to develop an alternative accountability system and require all alternative schools serving high-risk pupils to participate in the alternative accountability system, regardless of the percentage of high-risk pupils enrolled. Fiscal Assembly-member Arambula Author HELD

Assembly Approps.
AB 2273 California Education Opportunity Index Adds the California Education Opportunity (CEO) Index to the Public Schools Accountability Act, which would require the Superintendent to develop the CEO Index to measure performance and offerings of both elementary and secondary schools in preparing students for graduation and to become responsible and contributing community members after graduation, as specified. The Superintendent would be required to establish an advisory committee, composed as specified, to advise the Superintendent and the state board on the CEO Index. Fiscal Assembly-member Torlakson Author HELD

Assembly Approps.
AB 2307 API Provides that as part of the alternative accountability system for schools, the Superintendent and the state board shall allow a dropout recovery high school as defined, to use an individual pupil growth model that meets specified criteria. Fiscal Assembly-member Carter Author Passed Assembly

Senate Rules
Funding
SB 957 CAL GRANT C Requires the Student Aid Commission, in cooperation with specified entities and persons, to develop and regularly update the areas of occupational or technical training for which students may utilize Cal Grant C awards and would require the commission to give priority in granting the awards to students pursuing occupational or technical training in areas that meet specified criteria. Fiscal Senator Price Author Passed Senate

Assembly Rules
SB 1298 ROP Funding For the 2011-2012 year, restricts the authority of a school district to withdraw from a regional occupational center or program if the State Board of Education determines that doing so would negatively impact the career technical education services received by high school pupils of other school districts or charter schools in the regions. The bill also requires a recipient of funds allocated for career technical education services to expend those funds in accordance with the regional plan for occupational course sequences, in order to meet documented labor market demand, and focus on the needs of high school pupils. Fiscal Senator Hancock Author Passed Senate

Assembly Rules
SB 1396 Categorical Felxibility Establish the 3-year Maximum Categorical Education Flexibility Pilot Program in which 3 school districts would be selected to participate. To be eligible for selection, a school district would be required to meet certain preconditions, including developing a plan or initiative to accelerate pupils' progress to proficiency that includes measurable metrics to improve pupil performance, closing the achievement gap, increasing college entrance rates, and increasing career readiness. A school district selected to participate would be required to agree to demonstrate significant progress toward accelerating pupils' progress toward proficiency on California's academic standards over the 3-year pilot project period, a narrowing of the achievement gap in its federally recognized subgroups, fiscal solvency, positive growth on the district API, improvement in its college entrance rate, and an increase in its graduation rate. The bill also requires the Superintendent to apportion to the participating school districts a categorical education block grant based on the funding those school districts received in the 2009-10 fiscal year for specified programs, including the Economic Impact Aid Program, the Class Size Reduction Program, Child Nutrition Programs, and Transportation Programs. A participating school district would be allowed to use the block grant funds for any purpose related to improving pupil achievement and academic instruction and would be required to implement an open and transparent process that allows public input when discussing and deciding on the expenditure of categorical education block grant funds. Fiscal Senator Lowenthal Author Passed Approps.

Senate Floor
AB 2335 Education Financing Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to study prescribed topics relating to the regulatory, ministerial, and programmatic changes that would be necessary to support the development, implementation, and use of comprehensive school-level financial data and to make findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor about these topics on or before December 1, 2011. Fiscal Assembly-member Brownley Author Passed Assembly Approps.

Assembly Floor