Career education: Career Education Incentive Program.

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and authorizes school districts throughout the state to provide instruction to pupils. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state, and authorizes community college districts throughout the state to provide instruction to students at the campuses they operate. Existing law establishes various career education programs involving participation by public elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, and other governmental entities. This bill would express legislative intent to create incentives for school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and community college districts to establish regional career education consortia for purposes of coordinating, delivering, and implementing high-quality and cost-efficient career and college preparation programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 14, inclusive. The bill would establish the Career Education Incentive Program under the administration of the State Department of Education. The bill would authorize school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and community college districts to establish career education consortia. The bill would authorize these consortia to be organized as joint powers agencies. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in developing the program, to consider requiring consortia, as a condition of the receipt of funds, to annually report certain information to the governing boards of the member local educational agencies, including member community college districts. The bill would specify criteria for the receipt and expenditure of the state funding to be allocated to these consortia.