Regional occupational centers and programs: funding.

Existing law authorizes the county superintendent of schools of each county, with the consent of the State Board of Education, to establish and maintain a regional occupational center, or regional occupational program, in the county to provide education and training in career technical courses. Existing law also authorizes the governing boards of any school district maintaining high schools in the county, with the consent of the state board and county superintendent of schools, to cooperate in the establishment and maintenance of a regional occupational center or program, except as specified, and authorizes the establishment and maintenance of a regional occupational center or program by 2 or more school districts to be undertaken pursuant to a joint powers authority. Existing law also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to calculate a revenue limit for each regional occupational center or program, as specified, and requires the Superintendent to apportion funds to the regional occupational center or program based on that calculation. This bill would require a regional occupational center or program established and maintained by school districts or a joint powers authority, as specified, to receive an annual appropriation from the General Fund for purposes of providing career technical education services. The bill would require the appropriated funds to be apportioned directly to the regional occupational center or program based on a formula agreed upon by the school districts participating in the regional occupational center or program.