Bill Text: CA AB2237 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 2237 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-3)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From committee without further action. [AB2237 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2237-Amended.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 2237	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 25, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 18, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Olsen
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Bonilla, Chang, and
Gray   Gray,   Kim,   and O'Donnell
 )
    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Bates
 ) 

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to add Article 14 (commencing with Section 33480) to
Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
relating to partnership academies.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2237, as amended, Olsen. Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Partnership Academies.
   Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and
secondary education, with instruction provided by school districts at
schoolsites throughout the state. The State Department of Education,
under the administration of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, has numerous duties with respect to the funding and
conduct of the instructional activities undertaken by school
districts.
   This bill would establish a program for purposes of providing
grants to school districts for the establishment of up to 100
partnership academies dedicated to training young people in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.   (a)    The Legislature finds and
declares all of the following: 
   (a) 
    (1)  All young people should be prepared to think deeply
and critically so that they can become innovators, educators,
researchers, and leaders capable of solving the most pressing
challenges facing our nation and world, both today and tomorrow.
However, currently, not enough of our youth have access to quality
science, technology, engineering, and  math  
mathematics  (STEM) learning opportunities, and too few 
students   pupils  see these disciplines as
springboards to their careers. 
   (b) 
    (2)  Only 81 percent of Asian American high school
pupils and 71 percent of white high school pupils attend high schools
where the full range of mathematics and science courses, namely
 Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Calculus, Biology,
Chemistry, and Physics,   algebra I, geometry, algebra
II, calculus, biology, chemistry, and physics,  are offered.
Access to these courses for American Indian, Native Alaskan, black,
and Hispanic high school pupils is significantly worse. A child's
race, ZIP code, or socioeconomic status should never determine his or
her STEM fluency. Children must be provided with the opportunity to
be career- and college-ready in order to thrive in a modern STEM
economy. 
   (c) 
    (3)  Only 16 percent of American high school seniors are
proficient in mathematics and interested in a STEM career. Even
among those who do go on to pursue a college or university major in
STEM fields, only about half choose to work in a STEM-related career.
In 2014, California's K-12 public education system ranked 43rd in
the nation. Surveys reveal that only 29 percent of Americans rated
our nation's K-12 education system in STEM subjects as above average
or the best in the world. In our competitive global economy, these
statistics are unacceptable. 
   (d) 
    (4)  Partnership academies provide smaller learning
communities with a career-focused theme. Academy components include
rigorous academics and career technical education, a committed team
of teachers, and active business and postsecondary partnerships.

   (e) 
    (b)  Therefore,  it is the intent of  the
Legislature  needs  to provide more opportunities
for pupils in our state's public schools to access high-quality STEM
preparation through a variety of opportunities, including additional
funding for establishing STEM-related partnership academies.
  SEC. 2.  Article 14 (commencing with Section 33480) is added to
Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:

      Article 14.  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Partnership Academies Act


   33480.  This article shall be known, and may be  cited as,
  cited, as  Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Partnership Academies.
   33481.  (a) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Partnership Academies is hereby established. Commencing with the
 2016-17   2017-18  school year, the
department, in coordination with the  Superintendent
  Superintendent,  shall, with funds appropriated
in the annual Budget Act, issue grants for the establishment of 100
partnership academies dedicated to training young people in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations,
including, but not limited to, application software developer,
computer user support specialist, computer programmer, computer
hardware engineer, industrial engineer, civil engineer, architectural
engineer, aerospace engineer, dietetic technician, medical
scientist, microbiologist, general medical practitioner, dental
services provider, and chemist.
   (b) (1) The selection of school districts to establish STEM
partnership academies, and the planning and development of these
academies, shall be conducted pursuant to the procedures and
requirements established as specified in Section 54691. Planning and
development grants under this article shall be made available for up
to 100 partnership academies in addition to the total number of
grants established pursuant to Section 54691.
   (2) A school district applying to convert an existing school
program into a  STEM  partnership academy that meets the
criteria for a partnership academy pursuant to Section 54692 and
paragraph  (3)   (4)  may receive
first-year implementation funds, as appropriate, in accordance with
this article. 
   (3) In awarding grants pursuant to this section, the
Superintendent shall grant priority to proposals that address the
participation of pupils traditionally underrepresented in STEM
education or professions.  
   (3) 
    (   4)  To be eligible for funding pursuant to
this article, each proposed  STEM  partnership academy shall
satisfy both of the following requirements:
   (A) (i) Coursework and internship or preapprenticeship programs of
the proposed academy shall focus significant time on the use of
emerging technologies and state-of-the-art equipment.
   (ii) The proposed  STEM  partnership academy shall
demonstrate compliance with clause (i) through its efforts to obtain
input from industry and professional trade organizations.
   (B) Staff development opportunities shall be included in the
proposed  STEM  partnership academy plan to ensure that
teaching staff has the opportunity to be trained in the use of
emerging technologies and become familiar with new equipment and
current practices in STEM fields.