Bill Text: CA SB500 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Partnership academies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-08-17 - Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [SB500 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB500-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: SB 500	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 11, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 25, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 24, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hancock

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act to  amend Section 54690 of   add
Section 54691.5 to  the Education Code, relating to partnership
academies.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 500, as amended, Hancock. Partnership academies.
   Existing law provides for the establishment of partnership
academies for pupils at risk of dropping out of school by
participating school districts that meet specified eligibility
requirements, and requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to issue grants to school districts for planning, establishing, and
maintaining the partnership academies. 
   This bill would state the Legislature's intent to preserve support
and funding for existing partnership academies scheduled to expire
on June 30, 2012.  
    The 
    This  bill would require that, if funds are appropriated
for the support of certain partnership academies in the annual
Budget Act or any other measure, the Superintendent allocate funds to
these partnership academies, and that this funding be awarded on a
competitive basis in accordance with the provisions of law that
govern partnership academies.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
   
  SECTION 1.    Section 54690 of the Education Code,
as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 650 of the Statutes of 2010, is
amended to read:
   54690.  (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the
partnership academies program has proven to be a highly effective
state-school-private sector partnership, providing combined academic
and occupational training to high school pupils who present a high
risk of dropping out of school, and motivating those pupils to stay
in school and graduate. Partnership academies are functioning in high
schools across the state, with occupational education and skills
development successfully offered in California's 15 different
industry sectors, including electronics, computer technology,
finance, agribusiness, alternative energy, environmental design and
construction, graphic arts and printing, international business, and
space. Partnership academies have been honored with national awards
for excellence, and the California partnership academies have been
given high accolades in various textbooks and studies addressing
career technical education programs.
   (b) The Legislature finds that the partnership academies are in
the forefront of school efforts to integrate academic and career
technical education and that they can be effective in providing an
integrated learning program and high motivation toward pursuing
skilled occupational fields to pupils at risk of dropping out of
school and to pupils not motivated by the regular educational
curriculum. Further, the Legislature finds that the partnership
academies can make a very positive contribution towards meeting the
needs of the state for a highly skilled and educated workforce in the
21st century.
   (c) Therefore, the Legislature hereby states its intent to expand
the number of partnership academies in this state's high schools,
hereafter to be known as California Partnership Academies; to broaden
the availability of these learning experiences to interested pupils
who do not meet the criteria of "at-risk" pupils; and to encourage
the establishment of academies whose occupational fields address the
needs of developing technologies. The Legislature further states its
intent to preserve support and funding for high-quality existing
partnership academies scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012. This
commitment ensures that work with high school pupils can continue
without interruption, thereby increasing the likelihood of
graduation, postsecondary education, credentialed training, or
gainful employment. This commitment also strengthens the economy by
creating and sustaining a skilled workforce for the state.
   (d) For purposes of this article, an "at-risk" pupil means a pupil
enrolled in high school who is at risk of dropping out of school, as
indicated by at least three of the following criteria:
   (1) Past record of irregular attendance. For purposes of this
section, "irregular attendance" means absence from school 20 percent
or more of the school year.
   (2) Past record of underachievement in which the pupil is at least
one-third of a year behind the coursework for the respective grade
level, or as demonstrated by credits achieved.
   (3) Past record of low motivation or a disinterest in the regular
school program.
   (4) Disadvantaged economically.
   (5) Scoring below basic or far below basic in mathematics or
English language arts on the standardized test administered pursuant
to Article 4 (commencing with Section 60640) of Chapter 5 of Part 33.

   (6) Maintaining a grade point average of 2.2 or below, or the
equivalent of a C minus.
   (e) Up to one-half of the pupils enrolled at a partnership academy
may be pupils who do not meet the criteria of "at-risk" pupils.
   (f) The department may expend no more than 5 percent of the funds
received to carry out this article on administrative expenses.
 
  SEC. 2.    (a)   
  SECTION 1.    Section 54691.5 is added to the Education
Code, to read: 
    54691.5.    (a)    If funds are
appropriated in the annual Budget Act or any other measure for the
support of partnership academies funded pursuant to Chapter 352 of
the Statutes of 2005, these funds shall be allocated pursuant to
subdivision (b).
   (b) Commencing with the 2012-13 fiscal year, the Superintendent
shall allocate funds to California Partnership Academies that
received funding pursuant to the enactment of Chapter 352 of the
Statutes of 2005. This funding shall be awarded on a competitive
basis, pursuant to the provisions of  Article 5 
 this article.   (commencing with Section 54690) of
Chapter 9 of Part 29 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code.