Pupil instruction: career technical education, career education, and apprenticeships.

Senator Pérez's comprehensive career technical education bill expands work-based learning opportunities across California's educational institutions while establishing new frameworks for youth apprenticeships and industry partnerships. The legislation authorizes county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools to offer work experience programs previously limited to traditional school districts.

The bill redefines work-based learning to encompass apprenticeships, internships, mentorships and job shadowing experiences, while extending work experience education credit eligibility to 10th grade students. It requires the Department of Education to create data systems tracking participation in these programs, contingent on legislative funding. Local educational agencies may serve as employers of record for students in registered apprenticeship programs and provide workers' compensation coverage.

To strengthen alignment between education and industry needs, the legislation establishes career technical education advisory groups with representatives from business, labor, education and government sectors. These groups will review curriculum standards every five years and develop occupational frameworks for youth apprenticeship programs. The bill also mandates that high school apprenticeship programs offer related instruction during the school day through career technical education pathways or dual enrollment courses.

The Department of Education must convene an interagency workgroup with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and other state agencies to coordinate career education priorities and create standardized frameworks for apprenticeable occupations. This aims to streamline program approval while maintaining consistent quality standards across the state's career preparation initiatives.