Property Tax Backfill
Assembly Bill 551 protects community college districts from the fiscal uncertainty and financial loss that occurs as a result of shortfalls in property tax revenues. Community college districts have not historically received some portions of the property tax revenues that were estimated in the state budget process when actual revenues fall short of the estimate. AB 551 provides for the annual transfer of funds to community colleges to compensate community college districts for shortfalls in property tax revenues, and to ensure the colleges’ ability to meet the educational needs of their students and communities.
The Commission on Adequate Funding for Career Technical and Vocational Education
Assembly Bill 552 would create the Commission on Adequate Funding for Career Technical and Vocational Education at the California Community Colleges. The commission would consist of representatives from community colleges, industry, and state government who will provide recommendations to the Legislature on financing alternatives for career technical and vocational education at the California Community Colleges. California Community Colleges play a vital role in the state’s economy. However, the current financing structure for community colleges creates a financial disincentive to develop or continue existing career technical/vocational education or high cost laboratory programs. The need for career technical/vocational education or high cost laboratory programs can vary within regions and specific industries where there is a shortage in the workforce. In order to meet the needs of the state’s economy, community colleges must be able to provide the needed training.
Regional Occupation Center and Program Funding Equalization
Assembly Bill 553 would seek to fund all Regional Occupation Center and Programs (ROCP) at an equal amount per unit of ADA, thereby providing equity for high school students participating in career and technical education courses. The bill would also address the increased need to retrain displaced workers so they can rejoin the work force by providing ROCP enrollment flexibility. ROCPs were created by state law in the early 1960’s to provide advanced career technical education courses for high school students and adults. ROC/Ps represent the state’s main investment to deliver career technical education to high school students.
Parental Choice for Career Technical Education
Assembly Bill 554 allows students and parents the choice to participate in a career technical education program in place of taking visual/performing arts, foreign language, or physical education courses with the consent of the governing board. According to a recent Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation study on high school dropouts, 47% said classes were not interesting, while 81% called for more “real-world” learning opportunities. Allowing student and parent to have a choice to participate in programs that lead to a good paying job and start on a career ladder is essential for reducing the dropout rate and reinvigorating the economy. The federal stimulus money will create new jobs that will need to be filled by our students. AB 554 allows parental choice and flexibility for students to participate in comprehensive CTE courses that will result in direct employment out of high school.
Accelerated Learning Pilot Program
Assembly Bill 555 would create the Accelerated Learning Pilot Program which allows a select number of community colleges to partner with local high schools to enhance the options and availability of advanced scholastic courses or career technical coursework for high school students. AB 555 would require a report that would examine the success of the partnerships to identify efficiencies and best practices for future partnerships. The accelerated learning pilot program would increase the options for students to prepare for college or immediately enter the workforce with the career technical training needed of high wage jobs.
Furutani also introduced yesterday Assembly Bill 506, which conforms state law to federal IRS regulations to allow our education system to better meet its workforce needs. CalSTRS members return to work after retirement for various reasons, such as a desire to stay active in education, a need to earn extra income to pay for health care costs and other expenses, or a request by a former employer. Currently, CalSTRS allows members to retire and return to work the very next day as long as they do not make more than the earnings limit. AB 506 would extend the sunset dates for the earnings limit exemptions to address the workforce needs of employers. |
