AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 13, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 23, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 8, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 22, 2025

AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 1, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

93

Introduced by Senator Pérez

(Coauthors: Senators Umberg and Weber Pierson)

February 21, 2025

An act to amend Sections 51760, 51760.1, 51760.2, 51760.3, 51762.5, 51763, 51764, 51766, 51767, and 51768 of, to add Sections 48800.8, 48930.5, 51759, 51769.1, 52372.3, 52455, 53026, 53071.2, 54698, 56474.5, 76004.5, 79149.8, and 88834 to, to add Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 51755) to Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of, and to repeal and add Section 51769 of, the Education Code, and to amend Section 3100 of, and to add Section 3100.5 to, the Labor Code, relating to pupil instruction.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

(1) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to authorize a pupil who meets specified criteria to attend community college. Existing law requires a pupil to receive credit for community college courses that the pupil completes at the level determined appropriate by the governing boards of the school district and community college district.

This bill would authorize a pupil concurrently enrolled in specified community college courses to participate in work-based learning activities, as provided.

(2) Existing law authorizes a group of students to organize a student body association within the public schools with the approval of and subject to the control and regulation of the governing board of the school district, as specified.

This bill would authorize an above-described student body organization to operate a student-led enterprise program, as provided.

(3) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district maintaining a high school to (A) establish courses of work-based learning or work experience education to provide pupils with instruction in the skills, attitudes, and understanding necessary for success in employment, (B) provide guidance and supervision procedures to ensure maximum educational benefit to pupils from placement in suitable work-based learning or work experience education courses, (C) provide for arranging, approving, coordinating, and awarding credit for work-based learning or work experience education courses, and employing personnel for purposes of providing that credit, and (D) provide or require pupils to acquire liability insurance for off-school-grounds work experience programs.

This bill would extend the above-described authorizations provided by the governing boards of school districts to the governing boards or bodies of county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools. The bill would define “work-based learning” and “work experience education” for purposes of those authorizations, would make other changes to those authorizations, and would make various other changes to law relating to work-based learning, as specified.

Existing law authorizes work-based learning opportunities for pupils to be delivered by partnership academies, regional occupational programs, and local educational agencies, as specified. Existing law authorizes those opportunities to include work experience education, community classrooms, cooperative career technical education programs, and job shadowing experience, as specified.

This bill would authorize work-based learning activities, instead of work-based learning opportunities, to be delivered by those entities, would authorize work-based learning activities to also be delivered by state special schools, and would authorize work-based learning activities to include on-the-job training in certain youth apprenticeship programs, internships, and mentorships. The bill would instead authorize work-based learning activities to be offered through work experience education courses, community classrooms, cooperative career technical education programs, and early college credit courses, among other related changes, as specified.

Existing law requires the governing boards of school districts to grant credit to pupils enrolled in grade 11 or a higher grade for completing a work experience education program, as specified.

This bill would extend the above-described requirement provided by the governing boards of school districts to the governing boards or bodies of county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools. The bill would extend to pupils enrolled in grade 10 the granting of credit for completing a work experience education program to the same extent granted to pupils in grade 11 or a higher grade. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a high school district, the governing board of a joint powers regional occupational center or program, or a county superintendent of schools that conducts a county-operated regional occupational center or program to establish and maintain cooperative career technical education programs or community classrooms as part of a career technical education course, as provided.

This bill would authorize the above-described cooperative career technical education programs or community classrooms to include work-based learning activities, as provided.

Existing law creates within the State Department of Education an agricultural career technical education unit to assist school districts in establishing and maintaining career technical education programs in agriculture, as provided. Existing law requires the curriculum of school districts that choose to participate in the state program of agricultural career technical education to include organized classes in the study of agricultural science and technology, a student-supervised occupational experience program in agriculture, and a program of leadership, organization, and personal development.

This bill would authorize funding provided for the above-described purposes to be used to support agricultural career technical education programs that provide work-based learning activities, as provided.

Existing law establishes the Golden State Pathways Program to promote pathways in high-wage, high-skill, high-growth areas, including technology, health care, education, and climate-related fields that, among other things, allow pupils to advance seamlessly from high school to college and career and provide the workforce needed for economic growth. Existing law appropriates $500,000,000 from the General Fund to the department to competitively award grant funds to local educational agencies, defined as school districts, charter schools, county offices of education, or regional occupational centers or programs operated by a joint powers authority or county office of education, for purposes of the program, and makes these funds available for encumbrance until June 30, 2029.

This bill would authorize Golden State Pathways Program grants to be awarded to pathways programs that provide work-based learning activities, as provided.

Existing law establishes the California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program, administered by the department, with the purpose of encouraging, maintaining, and strengthening the delivery of high-quality career technical education programs. Existing law requires, for the 2021–22 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, $300,000,000 to be available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the program.

This bill would authorize California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program grants to be awarded to pathway programs and work-based learning activities, as provided.

Existing law establishes the California Partnership Academies and finds and declares that partnership academies have proven to be highly effective state-school-private sector partnerships that combine academic and vocational training for high school pupils who present a high risk of dropping out of school, and motivate them to stay in school and graduate. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue grants to school districts, as specified, to plan, establish, and maintain these academies. Existing law requires the Superintendent to establish eligibility criteria for school districts that apply for these grants.

This bill would authorize funding provided for these academies to be used to support those academies that provide work-based learning opportunities, activities, as provided.

Existing law provides that an essential component of transition services for individuals with exceptional needs is the project workability program that provides instruction and experiences that reinforce core curriculum concepts and skills leading to gainful employment. Existing law requires the Superintendent to develop criteria for awarding grants, funding, and evaluating workability projects, and requires project workability project applications to include specified elements.

This bill would authorize transition and employment preparation services under the project workability program to include work-based learning activities, as provided.

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to enter into a College and Career Access Pathways partnership with the governing board of a school district, a county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school with the goal of developing seamless pathways from high school to community college for career technical education or preparation for transfer, improving high school graduation rates, or helping high school pupils achieve college and career readiness.

This bill would authorize a College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement to include work-based learning activities, as provided.

Existing law authorizes the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, to the extent that funds are available, to establish internship training programs and actively support apprenticeship training programs in collaboration with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

This bill would authorize programs and partnerships established under the above-described provisions to include work-based learning activities, as provided.

Existing law provides funding for the Strong Workforce Program and a K–12 component of the Strong Workforce Program with the purpose of creating, maintaining, supporting, encouraging, strengthening, and expanding the delivery of career technical education programs in the state, as provided.

This bill would authorize Strong Workforce Program funds to be used to support career technical education programs that provide work-based learning activities, as provided.

Existing law requires the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to develop a process to approve preapprenticeship programs, as specified. Existing law requires a program seeking approval as a preapprenticeship program to submit to the division a request for approval that includes documentation evidencing that the program’s preapprenticeship training activities are conducted in partnership with an apprenticeship program approved by the division.

This bill would authorize a preapprenticeship program seeking approval to instead include documentation evidencing that the program’s preapprenticeship training activities are conducted with approval by a local building and construction trades council of the use of the multicraft core curriculum for the preapprenticeship program.

(4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 48800.8 is added to the Education Code, to read:

48800.8.

(a) A pupil concurrently enrolled in a community college course pursuant to Section 48800 or 48800.5 may participate in work-based learning activities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 when those activities are offered as a component of the community college course in which the pupil is enrolled and directly connected to the career technical education or academic learning objectives of that course.

(b) Participation in work-based learning activities pursuant to subdivision (a) shall require the approval of the applicable authority provided in the concurrent enrollment authorization process in this article, and shall comply with all applicable labor laws governing minors.

(c) A school district may award credit toward high school graduation for work-based learning activities completed pursuant to this section.

(d) This section shall not displace a community college district’s or college’s authority over the work-based learning component of a community college course described in subdivision (a).

SEC. 2.

Section 48930.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

48930.5.

(a) A student body organization established pursuant to this article may operate a student-led enterprise program, as defined in Section 51755, 51759, as part of a career technical education or academic program of study when the program is supervised, structured, and guided as a work-based learning activity consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5 of Part 28.

(b) A student-led enterprise program operated pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be conducted under the supervision of a certificated employee and governed by the policies of the governing board or body of the local educational agency or state special school.

SEC. 4.SEC. 3.

Section 51759 is added to the Education Code, immediately preceding Section 51760, to read:

51759.

For purposes of this article, unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions in Section 51755 apply. following definitions apply:

SEC. 5.SEC. 4.

Section 51760 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51760.

The governing body or board of a local educational agency or state special school maintaining a high school may do all of the following:

(a) Provide for the instruction of pupils in the skills, attitudes, and understanding necessary to succeed in employment by means of courses that include work-based learning activities or work experience education programs as provided in this article.

(b) Provide for guidance and supervision procedures designed to ensure maximum educational benefit to pupils from placement in suitable work-based learning activities occurring in work experience education programs or career technical education, or early college credit.

(c) Provide for arranging, approving, coordinating, and awarding credit for work-based learning occurring in work experience education programs or career technical education, or early college credit, and for those purposes employ instructors, coordinators, and other necessary personnel.

(d) (1) Provide for the local educational agency or state special school to purchase workers’ compensation and liability insurance for pupils enrolled in programs of study involving work experience education courses, work-based learning activities, and registered apprenticeships and preapprenticeships at locations off school grounds approved by the appropriate governing body or board, or require employers to purchase insurance and to pass on all or a portion of the costs, at the discretion of the appropriate governing body or board, to the local educational agency or state special school. The local educational agency or state special school may, at the discretion of its governing body or board, reimburse the employer for all or a portion of the actual costs incurred by the employer to obtain and maintain workers’ compensation insurance and liability insurance coverage for any participating pupils, including applicable insurance premiums and related administrative costs directly associated with securing that coverage.

SEC. 6.SEC. 5.

Section 51760.1 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51760.1.

(a) Consistent with the most recent state plans on career technical education, work-based learning activities for pupils may be delivered by local educational agencies, state special schools, partnership academies conducted pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 54690) of Chapter 9 of Part 29, regional occupational programs, as defined in Section 52303, and regional occupational centers. Work-based learning activities may include, but are not limited to, on-the-job training in youth apprenticeship programs, internships, mentorships, and job shadowing experiences. Work-based learning activities may be offered through work experience education courses, community classrooms, cooperative career technical education programs, career technical education courses, early college credit courses, and other academic courses.

(b) Local educational agencies, state special schools, and community colleges that receive funding to provide career technical education programs may include and fund a work-based learning activity component in courses and programs described in subdivision (a).

(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, except as provided in paragraph (2), all pupils participating in work-based learning activities shall be afforded the same statutory and regulatory safeguards as pupils in work experience programs.

(d) When feasible, work-based learning activities should be an integral part of a more comprehensive program that integrates academic courses and career technical education.

(e) High-quality work-based learning activities shall be offered in conjunction with labor, business, and industry, and may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(1) Emphasis on learning in the workplace.

(2) Exposure to a wide range of career areas and worksites to help youth make informed choices about education, training options, and career pursuits.

(3) Thoughtful placement of pupils into opportunities that are evaluated for their safety, qualified supervision, and learning opportunities.

(4) Appropriate sequencing of activities offered pursuant to this article based upon the pupil’s age and maturity.

(5) Explicit aim to supplement, or systematically reinforce, classroom instruction in career technical education courses, work experience education courses, and early college credit courses.

(6) Systematic attention to the development of 21st century skills, such as communication, creativity, problem solving, teamwork, project planning, and critical thinking.

(7) A trained mentor or supervisor who structures the learning at the worksite.

(8) Coordination between the classroom teacher and the workplace mentor or supervisor.

(9) Built-in regular assessment and feedback.

(10) Involvement of youth in choosing and structuring the experience.

(11) Clear and measurable learning outcomes.

(f) Local educational agencies and state special schools are encouraged to work with local workforce development board youth councils and workforce development boards to maximize the use of available resources for youth employment opportunities by coordinating work-based learning activities and facilitating work-based learning regional planning.

SEC. 7.SEC. 6.

Section 51760.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51760.2.

Local workforce development boards, in conjunction with local educational agencies, state special schools, and community colleges, and any other representatives deemed appropriate, including, but not limited to, labor, business, commerce, and industry representatives, research centers, and parents, may develop principles and guidelines for the establishment of work-based learning activities. If these organizations develop principles and guidelines pursuant to this section, all of the following shall occur:

(a) The organizations shall consider existing guidelines or regulations relating to the work-based learning activities described in this article, the state’s most recent career technical education plans, and the most current academic and career technical education standards and frameworks adopted by the state board.

(b) The guidelines shall include specific guidance to local educational agencies, state special schools, and community colleges on ensuring that a pupil’s work-based learning activities are linked directly to academic or career technical education learning objectives and provide the necessary skills for the pupil to use in future employment and career-focused postsecondary education opportunities.

(c) The guidelines shall align regional coordinating efforts with an emphasis on strengthening employer engagement and identifying critical skills for the workplace and expanding work-based learning activities in partnership with community colleges and local workforce development boards.

SEC. 8.SEC. 7.

Section 51760.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51760.3.

The governing board or body of a local educational agency or state special school offering a work experience education program pursuant to Section 51760 shall grant credit to pupils for satisfactorily completing work experience education courses, in an amount not to exceed a total of 40 semester credits, of which no more than 10 credits may be conferred in any one semester, provided the pupil meets all of the following requirements:

(a) At the time of enrollment, the pupil is at least 16 years of age. Pupils under 16 years of age may receive credit for work experience education under all of the following conditions:

(1) The pupil is enrolled in grade 10 or a higher grade.

(2) The principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled certifies that the pupil is in need of immediate work experience education in order to pursue employment opportunities.

(3) The principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled certifies that there is a probability that the pupil will no longer be enrolled as a full-time pupil without being provided the opportunity to enroll in a work experience education program.

(4) The pupil is at least 14 years of age and the principal in the school where the pupil is enrolled certifies that it is necessary for the pupil’s participation in a career technical education program.

(5) The pupil’s individualized education program, adopted pursuant to the requirements of Part 30 (commencing with Section 56000), prescribes the type of training deemed appropriate for participation in a work experience education program.

(b) During the course of the pupil’s enrollment in the program, the pupil receives as a minimum the equivalent of one instructional period per week of classroom instruction or counseling by a certificated employee. The instruction or counseling shall be offered in sessions scheduled intermittently throughout the semester.

(c) The work experience education program meets all of the requirements of law governing these programs.

SEC. 9.SEC. 8.

Section 51762.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51762.5.

The Superintendent shall adopt standards for local work experience education plans required by subdivision (b) of Section 46300. Local educational agencies and state special schools offering work-based learning activities shall document and maintain records of these activities occurring in work experience education programs and career technical education, and early college credit, and may include these activities as part of their work experience education plans. The adopted standards for these local work experience education plans shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Selection and approval of work stations.

(b) Classroom instruction.

(c) Supervision of pupils.

(d) Formal training agreements.

(e) Paid and unpaid work-based learning activities provided pursuant to this article.

(f) Academic credit for participation in work experience education courses.

(g) Youth apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs.

(h) Career technical education courses offering work-based learning activities.

(i) Pupil demographic and enrollment data.

(j) Work permits issued to pupils.

SEC. 10.SEC. 9.

Section 51763 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51763.

All laws or rules applicable to minors in employment relationships are applicable to pupils enrolled in work experience education courses or participating in youth apprenticeship programs or other work-based learning activities provided pursuant to this article.

SEC. 11.SEC. 10.

Section 51764 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51764.

Work experience education as authorized by this article includes the employment of pupils in part-time jobs and youth apprenticeship programs selected or approved as having educational value for the pupils employed and coordinated by school employees.

SEC. 12.SEC. 11.

Section 51766 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51766.

(a) Work experience education involving youth apprenticeship programs shall be consistent with the purposes of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3070) of Division 3 of the Labor Code and with standards established by the California Apprenticeship Council for programs in the building and construction trades and for firefighters or by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards of the Department of Industrial Relations for other programs.

(b) Work experience education programs involving preapprenticeship shall be consistent with Section 3100 of the Labor Code.

SEC. 13.SEC. 12.

Section 51767 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51767.

(a)The governing board or body of any local educational agency or state special school maintaining one or more high schools may provide for the placement and supervision of youth apprenticeship programs and work experience education programs in areas outside of the local educational agency or state special school, either within this state or in a contiguous state.

SEC. 14.SEC. 13.

Section 51768 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51768.

(a) The governing board or body of a local educational agency providing a work experience education program may provide for employment under the program of pupils in part-time jobs located in areas outside of the local educational agency, either within the state or in a contiguous state, and the employment may be provided by a public or private employer. The governing board or body may pay wages to persons receiving the training whether assigned inside or outside of the local educational agency, and may provide liability and workers’ compensation insurance as necessary. However, payments may not be made to or for private employers. However, wages to individuals with exceptional needs, as defined in Section 56026, may be paid to or for private employers as part of work experience programs funded through the annual Budget Act for these individuals.

(b) (1) The governing board or body of a local educational agency may provide for direct costs associated with the implementation of a school-based preapprenticeship or youth apprenticeship program registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, including, but not limited to, on-the-job training, liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and program administration.

(2) Except as provided in Section 3074.7 of the Labor Code, no charge or fee shall be required to be paid by a pupil, or the pupil’s parent or guardian, for the pupil’s participation in a preapprenticeship or youth apprenticeship program registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards as described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 15.SEC. 14.

Section 51769 of the Education Code is repealed.

SEC. 16.SEC. 15.

Section 51769 is added to the Education Code, to read:

51769.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this article or the Labor Code, local educational agencies and regional occupational centers or programs may be considered employers of pupils participating in work-based learning activities, including a youth apprenticeship program, that occurs in conjunction with work experience education, career technical education, or early college credit.

(b) Local educational agencies may provide workers’ compensation and liability insurance for youth student apprentices on behalf of a youth apprenticeship program sponsor, private employer, or an employer that is not the administrating school entity consistent with Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 3200) of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Labor Code for work-based learning activities occurring during and outside of the schoolday when the pupil is earning credit towards graduation from high school and those work-based learning activities occurring outside of the schoolday are connected to a school-based program and monitored by the school.

(c) Whenever a work-based learning activity is under the supervision of a regional occupational center or program operated by two or more school districts pursuant to Section 52301, the school district of residence of the persons receiving the training shall be deemed responsible for supervision of the pupil for the purposes of this section.

SEC. 17.SEC. 16.

Section 51769.1 is added to the Education Code, to read:

51769.1.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a youth apprenticeship program that begins in high school shall allow youth student apprentices to complete a percentage of their program before graduation from high school.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, all youth apprenticeship programs registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards pursuant to Section 3073 Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3070) of Division 3 of the Labor Code shall meet all the following requirements:

(1) Submit copies of approved youth apprenticeship standards and implementation plans to the department.

(2) Allow youth student apprentices who complete a percentage of their hours before high school graduation to complete a full apprenticeship under the supervision of the approved local educational agency or the apprenticeship program sponsor or transfer to an adjacent apprenticeship program in another region in the state, when possible.

(3) Offer related and supplemental instruction, provided the courses meet all of the following:

(A) Address the required competencies.

(B) Are approved by the apprenticeship program sponsor, employer, and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

(C) Are offered as part of a career technical education, work experience education, or early college credit.

(4) Award youth student apprentices credit for graduation for paid on-the-job training, provided that the training meets both of the following:

(A) Occurs as part of a work experience education program as described in Section 51764.

(B) Is offered in conjunction with related and supplemental instruction.

(5) A youth student apprentice may complete paid on-the-job training with a private employer or apprenticeship program sponsor registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards during the schoolday as part of a work experience education course and receive course credit towards graduation pursuant to Section 51760.3.

(6) While attending paid on-the-job training or related and supplemental instruction courses that occur outside of the schoolday and are offered by a registered apprenticeship program sponsor or private employer, the local educational agency may serve as an employer of record if the youth student apprentice is receiving credit towards graduation for the on-the-job training and related and supplemental instruction as part of a work experience education, or career technical education.

SEC. 18.SEC. 17.

Section 52372.3 is added to the Education Code, to read:

52372.3.

The governing board of a school district, the governing board of a joint powers regional occupational center or program, or a county superintendent of schools that establishes and maintains cooperative career technical education programs or community classrooms pursuant to this article may include in those programs work-based learning activities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5, including, but not limited to, internships, mentorships, job shadowing experiences, preapprenticeship programs, and youth apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 19.SEC. 18.

Section 52455 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 52454, to read:

52455.

Funding provided for purposes of this article may, if consistent with the allowable uses of that funding, be used to support agricultural career technical education programs that provide work-based learning activities, including, but not limited to, supervised occupational experiences and internships, consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5.

SEC. 20.SEC. 19.

Section 53026 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 53025, to read:

53026.

Grants provided pursuant to this chapter may be awarded, if consistent with the allowable uses of funding provided for purposes of this chapter, to pathway programs that provide work-based learning activities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5, including, but not limited to, career-connected learning opportunities, internships, mentorships, preapprenticeship programs, and youth apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 21.SEC. 20.

Section 53071.2 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 53071.1, to read:

53071.2.

Grants provided pursuant to this chapter may be awarded, if consistent with the allowable uses of funding provided for purposes of this chapter, to pathway programs that provide work-based learning activities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5, including, but not limited to, career-connected learning opportunities, internships, mentorships, preapprenticeship programs, and youth apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 22.SEC. 21.

Section 54698 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 54697, to read:

54698.

Funding provided for purposes of this article may be used, if consistent with the allowable uses of that funding, to support partnership academies that provide work-based learning opportunities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5 of Part 28, including, but not limited to, internships, mentorships, preapprenticeship programs, youth apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 23.SEC. 22.

Section 56474.5 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 56474, to read:

56474.5.

(a) Transition and employment preparation services provided pursuant to this article may include, if consistent with the allowable uses of funding provided for purposes of this article, work-based learning activities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5 of Part 28, including, but not limited to, career-connected learning opportunities, job shadowing experiences, internships, mentorships, and preapprenticeship programs designed to prepare pupils with disabilities for competitive integrated employment, postsecondary education, or vocational training.

(b) Work-based learning activities offered pursuant to this section shall comply with applicable labor laws governing minors, including those governing workers with disabilities, and shall be consistent with each participating pupil’s individualized education program adopted pursuant to this part.

SEC. 24.SEC. 23.

Section 76004.5 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 76004, to read:

76004.5.

(a) A College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement entered into pursuant to Section 76004 may include, if consistent with allowable uses of funding provided for purposes of Section 76004, work-based learning activities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 when those work-based learning activities are integrated into career technical education offered pursuant to the College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement and designed to provide career experience and educational benefits to participating pupils.

(b) Work-based learning components included in a College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement pursuant to subdivision (a) shall identify the supervising certificated employee or coordinator for the work-based learning activities and specify how the activities connect to course learning objectives.

SEC. 25.SEC. 24.

Section 79149.8 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 79149.7, to read:

79149.8.

(a) Programs and partnerships established pursuant to this article may include, if consistent with allowable uses of funding provided for purposes of this article, work-based learning activities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2, including, but not limited to, preapprenticeship programs and apprenticeship-aligned career pathways.

(b) Work-based learning opportunities activities offered pursuant to this article shall be coordinated with participating local educational agencies, state special schools, apprenticeship program sponsors, local workforce development boards, and community colleges to support seamless transitions between secondary and postsecondary education, workforce training, and youth apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 26.SEC. 25.

Section 88834 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 88833, to read:

88834.

Funding allocated to community college districts and regional consortia pursuant to this part may be used, if consistent with the allowable uses of that funding, to support career technical education programs that provide work-based learning activities consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2, including, but not limited to, apprenticeship-aligned career pathways, internships, mentorships, preapprenticeship programs and youth apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 27.SEC. 26.

Section 3100 of the Labor Code is amended to read:

3100.

(a) On or before January 1, 2019, the Division of Apprenticeship Standards shall develop a process to approve preapprenticeship programs for purposes of establishing eligibility for any state programs.

(b) (1) A program seeking approval as a preapprenticeship program shall submit to the Division of Apprenticeship Standards a request for approval, on a form developed by the division.

(2) The request for approval shall include documentation evidencing that the program’s preapprenticeship training activities meet either of the following requirements:

(A) The activities are conducted in partnership with one or more apprenticeship programs approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

(B) The activities are conducted with the approval by a local building and construction trades council of the use of the multicraft core curriculum for the preapprenticeships program.

(3) Valid documentation for purposes of this section shall include a copy of a memorandum of understanding or other formal written agreement that does all the following:

(A) Verifies either of the following, as applicable:

(i) The apprenticeship program’s support for the preapprenticeship program.

(ii) The local building and construction trades council’s approval of the use of the multicraft core curriculum for the preapprenticeship program.

(B) Gives priority but not a guarantee to preapprenticeship graduates for acceptance into the apprenticeship program.

(C) Makes a commitment as to the number of preapprenticeship graduates that may be accepted into the apprenticeship program.

(c) To qualify for approval, a preapprenticeship program shall include the following elements:

(1) Training and curriculum based on industry standards and approved by the documented registered apprenticeship program partner or partners that will prepare individuals with the skills and competencies needed to enter one or more registered apprenticeship programs.

(2) Strategies that increase registered apprenticeship opportunities for underrepresented, disadvantaged, or low-skilled individuals, such that, upon completion, those individuals will meet the entry requirements, gain consideration, and be prepared for success in one or more registered apprenticeship programs. These strategies include any of the following:

(A) Strong recruitment efforts focused on outreach to populations underrepresented in local, state, and national registered apprenticeship programs.

(B) Educational and prevocational services that prepare individuals to meet the entry requisites of one or more registered apprenticeship programs, such as specific career and industry awareness workshops, job readiness courses, English for speakers of other languages, adult basic education, financial literacy seminars, and mathematics tutoring.

(C) Exposing participants to local, state, and national registered apprenticeship programs and providing direct assistance to participants applying to those programs.

(D) Facilitating access to appropriate support services during both the preapprenticeship program and a significant portion of the registered apprenticeship program.

(E) Efforts to sustain the ongoing partnership between the preapprenticeship program and registered apprenticeship program partner or partners, including collaborative efforts that promote alignment with the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Unified Strategic Workforce Development Plan and use of the registered apprenticeship program as a preferred means for employers to develop a skilled workforce and create career opportunities for individuals.

(F) Providing physical preparedness training for jobs where physical ability and endurance are key elements of success.

(G) Providing training on safe working practices where applicable to the job.

(H) Providing hands-on training to individuals in a simulated lab experience or through volunteer opportunities that accurately simulate industry and occupational conditions while observing proper supervision and safety protocols, provided that such experience and opportunities do not supplant or reduce the compensable work of paid employees.

(I) Providing for automatic acceptance or priority credits for acceptance into apprenticeship programs of individuals who have successfully completed the preapprenticeship program, and when applicable, giving advance credit in the apprenticeship program for skills and competencies already acquired in the preapprenticeship program.

(d) Preapprenticeship programs shall be evaluated and approved based on a determination of the strengths of the elements described in subdivision (c), as demonstrated in the application.

(e) Approval of a preapprenticeship program shall expire in three years unless the program requests and obtains renewal of its approval by the division. Renewed approval shall be based on the program’s success in implementing the elements described in subdivision (c).

(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Local building and construction trades council” means a multicraft labor council affiliated with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.

(2) “Multicraft core curriculum” means the multicraft core curriculum implemented by the State Department of Education for a pilot project with partnership academies established pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 54690) of Chapter 9 of Part 29 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code and by the California Workforce Development Board and local workforce development boards.

SEC. 28.SEC. 27.

Section 3100.5 is added to the Labor Code, to read:

3100.5.

(a) Preapprenticeship programs approved pursuant to Section 3100 may coordinate with and be offered in conjunction with work-based learning activities, work experience education programs, career technical education courses, cooperative career technical education programs, community classrooms, dual enrollment, and other educational pathway programs consistent with Article 6.5 7 (commencing with Section 51755) 51759) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code.

(b) A local educational agency may participate in a preapprenticeship program approved pursuant to Section 3100 as an educational partner and may provide related and supplemental instruction, career technical education coursework, and academic course credit that supports the preapprenticeship program’s curriculum and competencies, consistent with the requirements of Section 3100 and the applicable provisions of the Education Code.

(c) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, charter school, or regional occupation center or program operated by a county office of education or a joint powers authority. has the same meaning as a local education agency as described in Section 3074.

SEC. 29.SEC. 28.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.