#7 Workforce Skills

The workforce training and education systems do not sufficiently provide learning opportunities to produce graduates with basic skills and future career advancement.  This contributes to the 20% illiteracy rate among the American labor force.  California’s .5% training tax is not proportionately distributed to small business, thus creating greater burdens on small business owners to train their employees in order to meet today’s competitive standards.

Bill Summaries

Bill Summary
AB 2 – Portantino: Repeal the existing higher education accountability program and require the state to establish a new accountability framework for achieving prescribed educational and economic goals. Support
AB 15 – M. Perez: Requires the CWIB, by 7/1/2012, in consultation with the GCJC, to establish the CA Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Initiative to ensure green collar career placement & advancement opportunities within CA’s renewable energy generation, manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, and operation sectors. Watch
AB 224 – Bonilla: Require that between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2016, the results of tests, which measures the performance of schools and the academic performance of pupils and consists of a variety of indicators, including pupil scores from a list of specified tests, constitute at least 50% of the value of the API. Oppose
AB 251 – Fuentes: Make a school district with an integrated academic & workforce approach to high school reform or a work-based learning initiative eligible to apply to receive state funding based on minimum weekly attendance instead of average daily attendance for pupils enrolled in its work-based learning programs. Support
AB 1310 – Furutani: This bill would state the Legislature's intent to enact legislation that would develop a strategic plan in the education system for workforce preparation and career technical education. Watch
AB 1315 – Furutani: States the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to develop demonstration partnerships between adult education programs and the CA Community Colleges to create "gateway centers" that will accelerate the progress of developing basic skills of students so that they will be successful students and obtain well-paying jobs after graduation. Watch
SB 281 – Wyland: Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to consider ways to expand career technical education programs in middle and high schools. Watch
SB 402 – Correa: Requires each curriculum framework to describe how content can be delivered to intentionally build creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and communication into and across each content area, to the extent the description is deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education. Watch
SB 776 – DeSaulnier: Requires local workforce investment boards to spend a certain percent of available federal funds for adults and dislocated workers on direct client services, workforce training programs, and supportive services in a manner consistent with federal law. Support
ABX1 11 – M. Perez: Will provide that the purpose of a targeted employment area is to help identify neighborhoods of low- and moderate-income workers for the purpose of providing those workers with employment assistance, training, and job placement. Watch

For more information on bills, pleae visit www.sen.ca.gov and enter the bill number.