Continuing to reverse California's chronic under-funding of career technical education programs, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to expand programs that prepare students for the 21st century economy. The Governor's proposed 2007-08 budget includes $52 million to improve career technical education programs by enhancing curriculum, increasing teacher recruitment and training and maximizing bond funds for new facilities.
Career technical education integrates core academics with technical and occupational courses to give students a pathway to postsecondary education and careers.
"We must reverse the trend of under-funding career technical education. California is leading the way in giving students a first-class ticket to high-paying jobs in the global marketplace," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "In addition, these programs help prevent drop-outs by keeping students interested in school. I know first-hand how beneficial these programs can be in helping students succeed. When I was in Austria, I learned how to work in retail and how to be a salesman, skills I've used for the rest of my life."
Specifically, the $52 million in new funding includes:
- $20 million in ongoing funding for career technical education instruction in high schools and community colleges. This funding will:
- Reform high school career technical education coursework through partnerships with community colleges. Reforms include coordinating career technical education courses so that students moving on to community college do not need to repeat classes; broadening curricula to include technical programs in emerging and traditional career paths; and expanding courses to ensure more students gain the skills needed for gainful employment.
- $32 million in new funding for career technical education instruction and programs. This funding, part of the Proposition 98 settlement, will:
- Expand student exposure to career options by building public-private partnerships between key industries and career technical education programs to expand apprenticeships, internships, and training.
- Increase professional development opportunities for educators by providing teachers and counselors more access to career technical education instruction and career counseling training.
- Design courses for growth industries by raising the quality and quantity of classes in high-growth sectors and emerging industries, like construction and medical technology.
- Enhance academic relevance by increasing the number of career technical education courses that match the required classes that prospective UC and CSU students must complete while in high school.
Since taking office, Governor Schwarzenegger has increased funding for career technical education by 18 percent and worked with Legislative leaders to include $500 million for career technical education facilities in the Strategic Growth Plan education bond.
The quick, efficient distribution and use of the education bond funds is a top priority for the Governor. He has directed the Office of Public School Construction to expeditiously implement the career technical education portion of the bonds.
In March 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger will host a career technical education summit to give school districts hands-on help in applying for bond funds. In addition, the summit will bring government and industry together to review existing career technical education curricula, outline industry needs over the next decade, identify how curricula can meet these needs and evaluate how schools can best prepare students for the workforce.
Currently there are 175 separate career technical education credentials, an inefficient structure that makes credentialing teachers difficult and fails to reflect industry realities. The Governor will propose legislation this year that streamlines the number of career technical education credentials to 15, reflecting the major industry sectors and simplifying teacher credentialing.
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