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Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Initiative Extended to June 2015

Posted on 09/28/2012

A bill, SB 1070, giving California high school students more opportunities to pursue career-oriented education with stronger links to growing sectors of our state’s economy was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown last week. The Career Technical Education Pathways Initiative continues a successful career technical education program that was set to expire at the end of 2012. The bill also expands and strengthens the program to foster increased partnerships between schools and emerging technologies and industries.

In a statement, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, who sponsored the bill said, “I'm delighted the Pro Tem, his fellow legislators, and Governor Brown acted to extend and strengthen a program that already has a proven history of investing in successful education, training, and workforce development pathways—from middle school all the way to community college—in regions across California."

Since its inception in 2005, the Career Technical Education Pathways Initiative has served nearly 750,000 California students from kindergarten to adult learners in community colleges. These and other investments have developed or revised courses and provided trainings and/or externships. They have also supported, among other programs, California Partnership Academies, Career Advancement Academies, and the Teacher Preparation Pipeline.

Under SB 1070, the program has been extended until June, 2015. In 2012-13, $38 million has been allocated to fund the program, with $48 million budgeted in each of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 fiscal years. Among other factors, competitive grants and contracts will be prioritized for programs which align existing college technical preparation programs with high school career technical education, which increase industry recognized certificates for high school and community college students in high priority economic sectors, and which create new articulated coursework between high schools and colleges.