HANCOCK JOB EDUCATION PLAN PASSES STATE ASSEMBLY
California Political Desk
July 15, 2009
Sacramento – A bill by Senator Loni Hancock (D-Oakland) linking career-oriented technical education programs offered in high schools and community colleges to the needs of the local economy passed the California State Assembly 57-11.
SB 515 requires that at least half of technical education courses focus on career sectors where there is a high priority need for skilled persons, as determined regionally by the state Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
"This will help ensure that a large number of students receive skilled education for jobs that are really out there waiting for them," Senator Hancock said.
"This emphasis on high priority/high need workforce preparation will give young people the opportunity to develop valuable skills needed to get jobs in the new economy, regardless of whether they first go to college, enter apprenticeships or directly enter the workforce," according to Senator Hancock.
"Employers will benefit as well. They will know that students coming out of these programs will have the education, skills and experience necessary to move right into demanding jobs in the workforce," Senator Hancock added.
More than $1.4 billion is spent in high schools, community colleges and Regional Occupation Centers/Programs and the strategic use of state and federal funds for workforce development in high need, high priority career areas is increasingly the focus of legislators. Examples of high priority needs in many regions of the state include jobs in the health professions, bio-tech, energy efficiency design and construction and graphic arts/animation.
According to Senator Hancock, "In the past decade, curriculum in career technical education has been significantly improved and students are now encouraged to take sequences of courses leading to skills certificates. SB 515 will help ensure that the investment we are making in career technical education can address the high priority workforce needs in the region or in the state."
The bill now returns to the Senate for concurrence in Assembly amendments before heading to the Governor´s desk.
SB 515 requires that at least half of technical education courses focus on career sectors where there is a high priority need for skilled persons, as determined regionally by the state Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
"This will help ensure that a large number of students receive skilled education for jobs that are really out there waiting for them," Senator Hancock said.
"This emphasis on high priority/high need workforce preparation will give young people the opportunity to develop valuable skills needed to get jobs in the new economy, regardless of whether they first go to college, enter apprenticeships or directly enter the workforce," according to Senator Hancock.
"Employers will benefit as well. They will know that students coming out of these programs will have the education, skills and experience necessary to move right into demanding jobs in the workforce," Senator Hancock added.
More than $1.4 billion is spent in high schools, community colleges and Regional Occupation Centers/Programs and the strategic use of state and federal funds for workforce development in high need, high priority career areas is increasingly the focus of legislators. Examples of high priority needs in many regions of the state include jobs in the health professions, bio-tech, energy efficiency design and construction and graphic arts/animation.
According to Senator Hancock, "In the past decade, curriculum in career technical education has been significantly improved and students are now encouraged to take sequences of courses leading to skills certificates. SB 515 will help ensure that the investment we are making in career technical education can address the high priority workforce needs in the region or in the state."
The bill now returns to the Senate for concurrence in Assembly amendments before heading to the Governor´s desk.
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