Section 52525 Of Article 1. General Provisions From California Education Code >> Division 4. >> Title 2. >> Part 28. >> Chapter 10. >> Article 1.
52525
. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) A healthy state economy is dependent on an educated and
well-prepared workforce. Career technical education plays a critical
role in developing the workforce necessary for the economic viability
of the state, keeping pupils engaged in the educational process, and
providing meaningful skills that translate to productive careers.
(b) Data and projections from the Employment Development
Department reveal that between the years of 2000 and 2006,
approximately 711,290 jobs that do not require a college degree will
need to be filled.
(c) The United States Department of Labor indicates that only
about 20 percent of the jobs in the workforce require a baccalaureate
degree.
(d) The State Department of Education reports that over 75 percent
of the "industrial technology education," which includes, but is not
limited to, automotive, construction, and manufacturing programs in
California's schools have closed since the mid-1970s.
(e) The Employment Development Department and other sources reveal
that current course offerings and enrollments are insufficient to
fill the projected need of the state's future labor market. Existing
courses provide only 65 percent of the projected course requirements.