BILL NUMBER: AB 1330AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 6, 2011 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 23, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 4, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Furutani (Coauthor: Senator Wyland) FEBRUARY 18, 2011 An act to amend Section 48980 of, and to amend, repeal, and add Section 51225.3 of the Education Code, relating to graduation requirements. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1330, as amended, Furutani. Graduation requirements: career technical education. Existing law prohibits a pupil from receiving a diploma of graduation from high school unless he or she completes specified requirements, including, but not limited to, completing one course in visual or performing arts or foreign language. This bill, commencing with the 2012-13 school year and until July 1, 2017, would add 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. The bill would require the governing board of a school district or county office of education that elects to offer career technical education courses pursuant to these provisions to provide parents, teachers, pupils, and the public, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board, with specified information relating to the impact that offering these courses would have on graduation requirements and admission requirements to the California State University and the University of California. The bill also would require a school district that elects to allow a career technical education course to satisfy a specified course graduation requirement to include, as part of an existing notification requirement, information about the high school graduation requirements of the school district and how each requirement satisfies, or does not satisfy, college admission requirements, and a list of career technical education courses offered by the school district. The bill also would require the State Department of Education to report to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature, on or before January 1, 2016,the number of pupils who took a career technical education course in order to fulfill the specified graduation course requirementspecified information relating to this alternative means of satisfying the graduation requirement . 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. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) The foundational principle of the Education Code is that all pupils shall have access to equitable educational opportunities and resources. (2) The future of the state is dependent upon minimizing, if not entirely alleviating, the inequities in our public schools so that all pupils will have more equitable opportunities to learn skills needed for entry into the workforce, to pursue postsecondary educational goals, and to contribute to the social cohesion of the state. (3) Current law specifies the courses a pupil must complete to graduate from high school. However, too many pupils are dropping out of high school or graduating without the necessary foundation to succeed in the workplace or in postsecondary education. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that: (1) By specifying the types of coursework that pupils must complete in order to graduate, pupils will have world-class skills and the workforce of the state will be competitive in the global economy. (2) Pupils will be prepared to meet the academic and technical skills challenges of the high school curriculum and that they will take advantage of the range of course options available to them. (3) In order to increase the rigor of the coursework and to ensure that pupils are prepared to meet the demands of the 21st century, the courses required for high school graduation must be aligned with the standards and frameworks that are adopted by the State Board of Education. SEC. 2. Section 48980 of the Education Code is amended to read: 48980. (a) At the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, the governing board of each school district shall notify the parent or guardian of a minor pupil regarding the right or responsibility of the parent or guardian under Sections 35291, 46014, 48205, 48207, 48208, 49403, 49423, 49451, 49472, and 51938 and Chapter 2.3 (commencing with Section 32255) of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1. (b) The notification also shall advise the parent or guardian of the availability of individualized instruction as prescribed by Section 48206.3, and of the program prescribed by Article 9 (commencing with Section 49510) of Chapter 9. (c) The notification also shall advise the parents and guardians of all pupils attending a school within the school district of the schedule of minimum days and pupil-free staff development days, and if minimum or pupil-free staff development days are scheduled thereafter, the governing board of the district shall notify parents and guardians of the affected pupils as early as possible, but not later than one month before the scheduled minimum or pupil-free day. (d) The notification also may advise the parent or guardian of the importance of investing for future college or university education for their children and of considering appropriate investment options, including, but not limited to, United States savings bonds. (e) The notification shall advise the parent or guardian of the pupil that each pupil completing grade 12 is required to successfully pass the high school exit examination administered pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 60850) of Part 33. The notification shall include, at a minimum, the date of the examination and the requirements for passing the examination, and shall inform the parents and guardians regarding the consequences of not passing the examination and shall inform parents and guardians that passing the examination is a condition of graduation. (f) Each school district that elects to provide a fingerprinting program pursuant to Article 10 (commencing with Section 32390) of Chapter 3 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 shall inform parents or guardians of the program as specified in Section 32390. (g) The notification also shall include a copy of the written policy of the school district on sexual harassment established pursuant to Section 231.5, as it relates to pupils. (h) The notification shall advise the parent or guardian of all existing statutory attendance options and local attendance options available in the school district. This notification component shall include all options for meeting residency requirements for school attendance, programmatic options offered within the local attendance areas, and any special programmatic options available on both an interdistrict and intradistrict basis. This notification component also shall include a description of all options, a description of the procedure for application for alternative attendance areas or programs, an application form from the district for requesting a change of attendance, and a description of the appeals process available, if any, for a parent or guardian denied a change of attendance. The notification component also shall include an explanation of the existing statutory attendance options, including, but not limited to, those available under Section 35160.5, Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 46600) of Part 26, and subdivision (b) of Section 48204. The department shall produce this portion of the notification and shall distribute it to all school districts. (i) It is the intent of the Legislature that the governing board of each school district annually review the enrollment options available to the pupils within its district and that the districts strive to make available enrollment options that meet the diverse needs, potential, and interests of the pupils of California. (j) The notification shall advise the parent or guardian that a pupil shall not have his or her grade reduced or lose academic credit for any absence or absences excused pursuant to Section 48205 if missed assignments and tests that can reasonably be provided are satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time, and shall include the full text of Section 48205. (k) The notification shall advise the parent or guardian of the availability of state funds to cover the costs of advanced placement examination fees pursuant to Section 52244. (l) The notification to the parent or guardian of a minor pupil enrolled in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, also shall include the information required pursuant to Section 51229. (m) If a school district elects to allow a career technical education course to satisfy the requirement imposed by subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 51225.3, the school district shall include, in the notification required pursuant to this section, both of the following: (1) Information about the high school graduation requirements of the school district and how each requirement satisfies or does not satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. (2) A complete list of career technical education courses offered by the school district that satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California, and which of the specific college admission requirements these courses satisfy. SEC. 3. Section 51225.3 of the Education Code 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. (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) One course in visual or performing arts, foreign language, or, commencing with the 2012-13 school year, career technical education. (i) For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a course in foreign language. (ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, "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 . (iii) This subparagraph does not require a school or school district that currently does not offer career technical education courses to start new career technical education programs for purposes of this section. (iv) If a school district or county office of education elects to allow a career technical education course to satisfy the requirement imposed by this subparagraph, the governing board of the school district or county office of education, prior to 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 to fulfill the graduation requirement specified in this subparagraph. (II) The impact that offering career technical education courses, 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 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 to satisfy the requirement imposed by this subparagraph, the school district shall comply with subdivision (m) 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 the provisions of this code. (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 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) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district shall exempt a pupil in foster care from all coursework and other requirements adopted by the governing board of the district that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements specified in this section if the pupil, while he or she is in grade 11 or 12, transfers into the district from another school district or between high schools within the district, unless the district makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the additional requirements in time to graduate from high school while he or she remains eligible for foster care benefits pursuant to state law. A school district shall notify a pupil in foster care who is granted an exemption pursuant to this subdivision, and, as appropriate, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, if any of the requirements that are waived will affect the pupil's ability to gain admission to a postsecondary educational institution and shall provide information about transfer opportunities available through the California Community Colleges.(d) On or before January 1, 2016, the department shall report to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature the number of pupils who took a career technical education course in order to fulfill the requirements specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). A school district may report the number of career technical education courses taken by pupils to fulfill the requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System.(d) On or before January 1, 2016, the department shall report to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature all of the following information: (1) The number of pupils who took a career technical education course in order to fulfill the requirements specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). A school district may report this number through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System. (2) Reasons given by pupils 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 available for pupil enrollment. (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 addressed local workforce needs. (6) The impact on visual and performance arts and foreign language courses that resulted from pupils choosing to enroll in career technical education courses to satisfy the graduation requirement specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). (7) Annual pupil dropout and graduation rates for the 2011-12 to 2014-15 school years, inclusive. (e) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2017, and, as of January 1, 2018, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 4. Section 51225.3 is added to the Education Code, 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. (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) One course in visual or performing arts or foreign language. For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in this subparagraph, a course in American Sign Language shall be deemed a course in foreign language. (F) Two courses in physical education, unless the pupil has been exempted pursuant to the provisions of this code. (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 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) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district shall exempt a pupil in foster care from all coursework and other requirements adopted by the governing board of the district that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements specified in this section if the pupil, while he or she is in grade 11 or 12, transfers into the district from another school district or between high schools within the district, unless the district makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the additional requirements in time to graduate from high school while he or she remains eligible for foster care benefits pursuant to state law. A school district shall notify a pupil in foster care who is granted an exemption pursuant to this subdivision, and, as appropriate, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, if any of the requirements that are waived will affect the pupil's ability to gain admission to a postsecondary educational institution and shall provide information about transfer opportunities available through the California Community Colleges. (d) This section shall become operative July 1, 2017.