Copyright© 2005 by School Services of California, Inc.
Volume 18 For Publication Date: December 2, 2005 No. 24
$20 Million for Career
Technical Education Now Available
The Chancellor’s Office has
released the draft implementation strategy for the $20 million for career
technical education articulation contained in SB 70 (Scott, D-Altadena), after
receiving approval from the Department of Finance. SB 70 requires the Board of
Governors of the California Community Colleges to assist economic and workforce
regional development centers and consortia, including middle and junior high
schools, or high schools and regional occupational centers and programs, to
improve linkages and career technical education pathways between high schools
and community colleges for the benefit of students in both educational systems.
The goal of the program will be to build a Career Technical Education system with shared system values and concepts in the funded projects. The approach features three concurrent priorities: “Building exemplars as beacons while strengthening the foundation and growing needed program capacity and infrastructure.”
Awards will recognize three
types of collaborative proposals:
Exemplar “Quick Start” Projects to build effective transitions
from high school to postsecondary education.
Priority will be given to
community college economic development and 2+2 consortia to modify existing
programs.
Growing Needed Program Capacity and Infrastructure, which includes
projects that address regional curriculum alignment, middle school career
exploration and model program development, building career pathways and
work-based curriculum, and faculty and counselor in-service projects.
Strengthening Existing Career and Technical Education Sectors, where
the intent is to rely on existing community college programs to strengthen or
reestablish secondary and ROC/P programs.
Awards by the Chancellor’s
Office are subject to adjustment as the office ensures geographic and
programmatic diversity.
Now that the proposal has received approval from the Department of Finance, the Chancellor’s Office indicates that the RFP will become available soon. Now is the time for K-12 schools and community college districts offering career technical courses to consider partnerships that can make good use of the $20 million. If the expenditure of these one-time funds provides successful models, the Governor will seek to continue funding for these programs in his 2006-07 State Budget.
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