Amended  IN  Assembly  May 07, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  June 05, 2023
Amended  IN  Senate  May 03, 2023
Amended  IN  Senate  March 20, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 480

Introduced by Senator Portantino

February 14, 2023

An act to add and repeal Section 35160.3 of the Education Code, relating to school districts. An act to amend Section 51225.3 of, to add Sections 51226.10, 51226.11, and 52064.2 to, and to add and repeal Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 52980) of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of, the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 480, as amended, Portantino. School districts: pilot programs: Korean Meister high school system. Pupil instruction: work-based learning: youth apprenticeship programs: high school graduation requirements: pilot program.
(1) Existing law requires a pupil to complete designated coursework while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation from high school. The coursework requirements include, among others, the completion of one course in visual or performing arts, foreign language, or, until July 1, 2027, career technical education. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to coordinate the development, on a cyclical basis, of model curriculum standards for, among other courses of study, a career technical education course of study.
This bill, for the 2026–27 school year, would authorize a school district or county office of education to offer the participation in a youth apprenticeship program, as defined, for 2 school years as an alternative to the requirement that a pupil complete a course in visual or performing arts, foreign language, or career technical education, and would require a school district or county office of education, before offering that alternative to pupils, to notify parents, teachers, pupils, and the public at a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board of the school district or county board of education of specified information.
The bill would require the Superintendent, on or before July 1, 2029, and in collaboration with specified entities, to develop and adopt work-based learning standards, as provided. The bill would require the State Department of Education, on or before January 1, 2026, and in collaboration with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, to develop guidance on the distinction between youth apprenticeship programs, career technical education programs, preapprenticeship programs, and regional occupation programs, as provided.
(2) Existing law requires the department, in collaboration with, and subject to the approval of, the executive director of the State Board of Education, to develop and maintain the California School Dashboard, a web-based system for publicly reporting performance data on the state and local indicators included in the evaluation rubrics. The department, pursuant to the requirement of developing the California School Dashboard, has included as one of several state indicators, the College/Career Indicator (CCI), which represents the percentage of high school graduates who are prepared for college or a career, and includes several measures, including, among others, work-based learning measures, as part of the CCI.
This bill would require the state board to, on or before July 1, 2026, include youth apprenticeship programs as a work-based learning measure for purposes of the CCI.
(3) Existing law provides funding for career technical education programs, including through, among others, the California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program, the Strong Workforce Program, and a K–12 component of the Strong Workforce Program, with the purpose of creating, maintaining, supporting, encouraging, strengthening, and expanding the delivery of career technical education programs in the state, as provided.
This bill would, subject to an appropriation of one-time funds for this purpose in the annual Budget Act or another statute, establish the High School Apprenticeship Pilot Program under the administration of the department. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2026, to provide grants to 3 school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools for use over two school years, commencing with the 2026–27 school year, as provided. The bill would require the department to, among other things, convene a working group with specified entities and to work in collaboration with the working group to determine application procedures and selection criteria for the grant awards. The bill would require grant recipients to use the grant funds for the implementation and success of a youth apprenticeship pilot program, as provided. The bill would require the grant recipients to submit to the department data identified by the department and would require the department, on or before December 1, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature regarding the program, as provided.
The bill would make these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2032, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2033.

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to initiate and carry on any program, activity, or to act in any manner that is not in conflict with or inconsistent with, or preempted by, any law and that is not in conflict with the purposes for which school districts are established. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district or a county board of education, on a districtwide or countywide basis or on behalf of one or more of its schools or programs, after a public hearing on the matter, to request the State Board of Education to waive all or part of any section of the Education Code or any regulation adopted by the state board that implements a provision of that code that may be waived, except as otherwise specified.

This bill would, notwithstanding any other law, require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with the approval of the state board, to select 3 geographically diverse school districts to implement, on a voluntary basis, a pilot program at one high school within the school district based upon the Korean Meister high school system. The bill would require the department to develop, and the state board to adopt, regulations to implement the pilot programs, consistent with specified requirements, including, among other requirements, that pupils participating in a pilot program are required to attend school 3 days per week and engage in their work experience 2 days per week, and that school districts will not lose funding tied to average daily attendance for pupils participating in a pilot program. The bill would repeal its provisions as of January 1, 2034.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, as amended by Section 35 of Chapter 571 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:

51225.3.
 (a) A pupil shall complete all of the following while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation from high school:
(1) At least the following numbers of courses in the subjects specified, each course having a duration of one year, unless otherwise specified:
(A) Three courses in English.
(B) Two courses in mathematics. If the governing board of a school district requires more than two courses in mathematics for graduation, the governing board of the school district may award a pupil up to one mathematics course credit pursuant to Section 51225.35.
(C) Two courses in science, including biological and physical sciences.
(D) Three courses in social studies, including United States history and geography; world history, culture, and geography; a one-semester course in American government and civics; and a one-semester course in economics.
(E) (i) One course in visual or performing arts, world language, or, commencing with the 2012–13 school year, career technical education.
(ii) Commencing with the 2026–27 school year, participation in a youth apprenticeship program for two school years may also satisfy the requirements of clause (i).

(i)

(iii) For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this subparagraph, clause (i), a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a course in world language.

(ii)

(iv) For purposes of this subparagraph, “a the following definitions apply:
(I) “A course in career technical education” means a course in a district-operated career technical education program that is aligned to the career technical model curriculum standards and framework adopted by the state board, including courses through a regional occupational center or program operated by a county superintendent of schools or pursuant to a joint powers agreement.
(II) A “youth apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship program registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards that fulfills all existing registered apprenticeship requirements and serves youth between 16 and 24 years of age, inclusive, at the time of enrollment.

(iii)

(v) This subparagraph does not require a school or school district that currently does not offer career technical education courses or youth apprenticeship programs to start new career technical education programs or youth apprenticeship programs for purposes of this section.

(iv)

(vi) If a school district or county office of education elects to allow a career technical education course or a youth apprenticeship program to satisfy the requirement imposed by this subparagraph, the governing board of the school district or county office of education, before offering that alternative to pupils, shall notify parents, teachers, pupils, and the public at a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board of all of the following:
(I) The intent to offer career technical education courses or youth apprenticeship programs to fulfill the graduation requirement specified in this subparagraph.
(II) The impact that offering career technical education courses, courses or youth apprenticeship programs, pursuant to this subparagraph, will have on the availability of courses that meet the eligibility requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California, and whether the career technical education courses or youth apprenticeship programs to be offered pursuant to this subparagraph are approved to satisfy those eligibility requirements. If a school district elects to allow a career technical education course or a youth apprenticeship program to satisfy the requirement imposed by this subparagraph, the school district shall comply with subdivision (l) of Section 48980.
(III) The distinction, if any, between the high school graduation requirements of the school district or county office of education, and the eligibility requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been exempted pursuant to this code.
(G) (i) Commencing with pupils graduating in the 2029–30 school year, including for pupils enrolled in a charter school, a one-semester course in ethnic studies. A local educational agency, including a charter school, may require a full-year course in ethnic studies at its discretion. Commencing with the 2025–26 school year, a local educational agency, including a charter school, with pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, shall offer at least a one-semester course in ethnic studies.
(ii) Subject to the course offerings of a local educational agency, including a charter school, a pupil may fulfill the requirement of clause (i) through the completion of any of the following types of courses:
(I) A course based on the model curriculum developed pursuant to Section 51226.7.
(II) An existing ethnic studies course.
(III) An ethnic studies course taught as part of a course that has been approved as meeting the A–G requirements of the University of California and the California State University.
(IV) A locally developed ethnic studies course approved by the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school. The proposed course shall first be presented at a public meeting of the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school, and shall not be approved until a subsequent public meeting of the governing board or governing body at which the public has had the opportunity to express its views on the proposed course.
(iii) A course that does not use ethnic studies content as the primary content through which the subject is taught shall not be used to satisfy the requirement of clause (i).
(iv) A pupil completing a course described in clause (ii) shall also accrue credit for coursework in the subject that the course is offered, including, if applicable, credit towards satisfying a course required for a diploma of graduation from high school pursuant to this section.
(v) Curriculum, instruction, and instructional materials for a course described in clause (ii) shall meet all of the following requirements:
(I) Be appropriate for use with pupils of all races, religions, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, pupils with disabilities, and English learners.
(II) Not reflect or promote, directly or indirectly, any bias, bigotry, or discrimination against any person or group of persons on the basis of any category protected by Section 220.
(III) Not teach or promote religious doctrine.
(vi) It is the intent of the Legislature that local educational agencies, including charter schools, consider that, pursuant to Section 51226.7, the Instructional Quality Commission undertook a lengthy, thorough, deliberative, and inclusive process before submitting a model curriculum in ethnic studies to the state board. To the extent that local educational agencies, including charter schools, choose to locally develop an ethnic studies program for approval by their governing board or governing body, it is the intent of the Legislature that local educational agencies not use the portions of the draft model curriculum that were not adopted by the Instructional Quality Commission due to concerns related to bias, bigotry, and discrimination.
(vii) The amendments made to this section by Section 1 of Chapter 661 of the Statutes of 2021 shall not be construed to alter any other requirement of this section for pupils enrolled in a charter school.
(2) Other coursework requirements adopted by the governing board of the school district.
(b) The governing board, with the active involvement of parents, administrators, teachers, and pupils, shall adopt alternative means for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study that may include practical demonstration of skills and competencies, supervised work experience or other outside school experience, career technical education classes offered in high schools, courses offered by regional occupational centers or programs, interdisciplinary study, independent study, and credit earned at a postsecondary educational institution. Requirements for graduation and specified alternative modes for completing the prescribed course of study shall be made available to pupils, parents, and the public.
(c) On or before July 1, 2017, the department shall submit a comprehensive report to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature on the addition of career technical education courses to satisfy the requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, the following information:
(1) A comparison of the pupil enrollment in career technical education courses, world language courses, and visual and performing arts courses for the 2005–06 to 2011–12 school years, inclusive, to the pupil enrollment in career technical education courses, world language courses, and visual and performing arts courses for the 2012–13 to 2016–17 school years, inclusive.
(2) The reasons, reported by school districts, that pupils give for choosing to enroll in a career technical education course to satisfy the requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(3) The type and number of career technical education courses that were conducted for the 2005–06 to 2011–12 school years, inclusive, compared to the type and number of career technical education courses that were conducted for the 2012–13 to 2016–17 school years, inclusive.
(4) The number of career technical education courses that satisfied the subject matter requirements for admission to the University of California or the California State University.
(5) The extent to which the career technical education courses chosen by pupils are aligned with the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards, and prepare pupils for employment, advanced training, and postsecondary education.
(6) The number of career technical education courses that also satisfy the visual and performing arts requirement, and the number of career technical education courses that also satisfy the world language requirement.
(7) Annual pupil dropout and graduation rates for the 2011–12 to 2014–15 school years, inclusive.
(d) For purposes of completing the report described in subdivision (c), the Superintendent may use existing state resources and federal funds. If state or federal funds are not available or sufficient, the Superintendent may apply for and accept grants, and receive donations and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of this section.
(e) For purposes of completing the report described in subdivision (c), the Superintendent may accept support, including, but not limited to, financial and technical support, from high school reform advocates, teachers, chamber organizations, industry representatives, research centers, parents, and pupils.
(f) The amendments made to this section by Section 1 of Chapter 661 of the Statutes of 2021 shall become operative only upon an appropriation of funds by the Legislature for purposes of these amendments in the annual Budget Act or another statute.
(g) This section shall become inoperative on the earlier of the following two dates:
(1) On July 1, immediately following the first fiscal year after the enactment of Chapter 621 of the Statutes of 2011 in which the number of career technical education courses that, as determined by the department, satisfy the world language requirement for admission to the California State University and the University of California is at least twice the number of career technical education courses that meet these admission requirements as of January 1, 2012. This section shall be repealed on the following January 1, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that date, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. It is the intent of the Legislature that new career technical education courses that satisfy the world language requirement for admission to the California State University and the University of California focus on world languages aligned with career preparation, emphasizing real-world application and technical content in related career and technical education courses.
(2) On July 1, 2027, and, as of January 1, 2028, is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 Section 51226.10 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 51226.9, to read:

51226.10.
 On or before July 1, 2029, the Superintendent shall, in collaboration with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, develop and adopt work-based learning standards that ensure all pupils have access to equitable and grade-appropriate work-based learning opportunities. The work-based learning standards shall be based on best practices and recommendations developed through the pilot program established pursuant to Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 52980).

SEC. 3.

 Section 51226.11 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 51226.10, to read:

51226.11.
 On or before January 1, 2026, the department shall, in collaboration with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, develop guidance on the distinction between youth apprenticeship programs, career technical education programs, preapprenticeship programs, and regional occupational programs. In developing the guidance, the department shall use the definition of youth apprenticeship program established by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

SEC. 4.

 Section 52064.2 is added to the Education Code, to read:

52064.2.
 (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the state board shall include youth apprenticeship programs as a work-based learning measure for the College/Career Indicator associated with the California School Dashboard maintained by the department pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5.
(b) For purposes of this section, a “youth apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship program registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards that fulfills all existing registered apprenticeship requirements and serves youth between 16 and 24 years of age, inclusive, at the time of enrollment.

SEC. 5.

 Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 52980) is added to Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:
CHAPTER  14. High School Apprenticeship Pilot Program

52980.
 (a) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
(2) “Program” means the High School Apprenticeship Pilot Program established pursuant to subdivision (b).
(3) “Working group” means the high school apprenticeship interagency working group established pursuant to subdivision (c).
(4) “Youth apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship program registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards that fulfills all existing registered apprenticeship requirements and serves youth between 16 and 24 years of age, inclusive, at the time of enrollment.
(b) The High School Apprenticeship Pilot Program is hereby established under the administration of the department. The department shall, on or before July 1, 2026, provide grants to three local educational agencies selected pursuant to subdivision (d) for use over two school years, commencing with the 2026–27 school year.
(c) In administering the program, the department shall, on or before August 1, 2025, convene the high school apprenticeship interagency working group that includes a representative from all of the following:
(1) The office of the Superintendent.
(2) The office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(3) The Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
(4) The California Workforce Development Board.
(5) Educators.
(6) School administrators.
(7) Pupils.
(8) Parents or guardians.
(9) Leaders in the business community.
(d) In collaboration with the working group, the department shall do all of the following:
(1) Determine application procedures and selection criteria for the three grant awards. Grant awards shall be awarded to three geographically diverse schoolsites with at least one schoolsite in a rural region.
(2) Develop pilot program study goals.
(3) Identify data to be collected by the grant recipients and reported to the department, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Participating pupil attendance and demographics.
(B) Pupil feedback.
(C) Pupil learning outcomes.
(4) On or before January 1, 2026, make grant applications available to local educational agencies for participation in the program.
(e) A grant recipient shall agree to all of the following:
(1) Use grant funds for any of the following:
(A) School administrator, teacher, and staff training specific to the implementation and maintenance of a youth apprenticeship program.
(B) Mentorship and coaching programs designed to provide apprentices with guidance, support, and supervision from experienced mentors or journeyworkers.
(C) Professional development for teachers after the initial establishment of the program.
(D) Ongoing outreach to families of pupils, including strategies for family engagement.
(E) Instructional coaches with demonstrated expertise and experience in implementing a youth apprenticeship program and instruction.
(F) Industry-based instructional materials and assessments for proposed youth apprenticeship programs.
(G) Support for the development and delivery of occupation-specific programs related to supplemental instruction that is directly aligned with the competencies and skills required for the apprenticeship occupation. This may include funding for instructional materials, equipment, and qualified instructors.
(H) Strategic planning and implementation-related costs in the first year of program participation.
(I) Reasonable administrative costs related to the management, coordination, and oversight of the youth apprenticeship program, such as program evaluation, reporting, and compliance monitoring.
(J) Providing stipends or allowances to enrolled youth apprentices to cover expenses related to their participation in the program, including, but not limited to, transportation, work attire, and tools or materials necessary for their apprenticeship.
(2) Report pupil data identified pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) to the working group.
(3) Fulfill all existing registered apprenticeship requirements.
(4) Comply with minor labor laws.
(5) Provide adequate mentorship and support structures to guide youth apprentices through their learning journey.
(f) Notwithstanding any other law, a pupil that participates in a pilot program pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed to meet the minimum instructional minutes as required by Section 46141.
(g) (1) On or before December 1, 2028, the department shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, that includes all of the following:
(A) Data collected from grant recipients pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d).
(B) The study goals developed for the program pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C) Recommendations for all of the following:
(i) Improving the program.
(ii) Future legislation related to high school apprenticeship programs.
(iii) Next steps for standardizing the program.
(2) The department may contract with an appropriate entity for an independent evaluation of the program.
(h) The implementation of this chapter is contingent upon the enactment of an appropriation for its purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

52980.5
 This chapter shall become inoperative on July 1, 2032, and, as of January 1, 2033, is repealed.

SECTION 1.Section 35160.3 is added to the Education Code, to read:
35160.3.

(a)Notwithstanding any other law, the department, with the approval of the state board, shall select three geographically diverse school districts to implement, on a voluntary basis, a pilot program at one high school within the school district based upon the Korean Meister high school system.

(b)The department shall develop, and the state board shall adopt, regulations to implement the pilot programs established pursuant to subdivision (a), consistent with all of the following:

(1)Pupils participating in a pilot program shall attend school three days per week and engage in their work experience two days per week.

(2)School districts and diverse local businesses shall be encouraged to work together to develop a pipeline of high school graduates to employees.

(3)Pupils participating in a pilot program shall not be required to enroll in any dual enrollment program, and a pilot program shall be separate from the Golden State Pathways Program established pursuant to Chapter 16.1 (commencing with Section 53020) of Part 28 of Division 4.

(4)School districts shall not lose funding tied to average daily attendance for pupils participating in a pilot program.

(5)Pupils participating in a pilot program shall be able to satisfy the A–G subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California.

(6)Participation in a pilot program shall be limited to pupils in grade 12.

(c)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2034, and as of that date is repealed.