Section 54690 Of Article 5. Partnership Academies From California Education Code >> Division 4. >> Title 2. >> Part 29. >> Chapter 9. >> Article 5.
54690
. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the
partnership academies program has proven to be a highly effective
state-school-private sector partnership, providing combined academic
and occupational training to high school pupils who present a high
risk of dropping out of school, and motivating those pupils to stay
in school and graduate. Partnership academies are functioning in high
schools across the state, with occupational education and skills
development successfully offered in California's 15 different
industry sectors, including electronics, computer technology,
finance, agribusiness, alternative energy, environmental design and
construction, graphic arts and printing, international business, and
space. Partnership academies have been honored with national awards
for excellence, and the California partnership academies have been
given high accolades in various textbooks and studies addressing
career technical education programs.
(b) The Legislature finds the partnership academies are in the
forefront of school efforts to integrate academic and career
technical education and that they can be effective in providing an
integrated learning program and high motivation toward pursuing
skilled occupational fields to pupils at risk of dropping out of
school and to pupils not motivated by the regular educational
curriculum. Further, the Legislature finds the partnership academies
can make a very positive contribution towards meeting the needs of
the state for a highly skilled and educated workforce in the 21st
century.
(c) Therefore, the Legislature hereby states its intent to expand
the number of partnership academies in this state's high schools,
hereafter to be known as California Partnership Academies; to broaden
the availability of these learning experiences to interested pupils
who do not meet the criteria of "at-risk" pupils; and to encourage
the establishment of academies whose occupational fields address the
needs of developing technologies.
(d) For purposes of this article, an "at-risk" pupil means a pupil
enrolled in high school who is at risk of dropping out of school, as
indicated by at least three of the following criteria:
(1) Past record of irregular attendance. For purposes of this
section, "irregular attendance" means absence from school 20 percent
or more of the school year.
(2) Past record of underachievement in which the pupil is at least
one-third of a year behind the coursework for the respective grade
level, or as demonstrated by credits achieved.
(3) Past record of low motivation or a disinterest in the regular
school program.
(4) Disadvantaged economically.
(5) Scoring below basic or far below basic in mathematics or
English language arts on the standardized test administered pursuant
to Article 4 (commencing with Section 60640) of Chapter 5 of Part 33.
(6) Maintaining a grade point average of 2.2 or below, or the
equivalent of a C minus.
(e) Up to one-half of the pupils enrolled at a partnership academy
may be pupils who do not meet the criteria of "at-risk" pupils.
(f) The department may expend no more than 5 percent of the funds
received to carry out this article on administrative expenses.