Strong Workforce Program: work-based learning opportunities.

Architected by Assembly Member Fong with a coauthor, the measure shifts California’s Strong Workforce Program toward paid work-based learning by requiring updated state guidance and authorizing direct funding for paid opportunities for students and employers, with a deadline for revisions set by mid-2026. The proposal treats paid work-based learning as a core option within the program and allows community college districts to use funds directly to support such opportunities, in addition to existing activities funded through consortia and statewide coordination.

Key mechanics center on how funds flow and are directed. Forty percent of Community College component funds would continue to support regionally prioritized projects through consortia, including short-term training tied to economic recovery efforts identified in regional plans. Sixty percent would be allocated directly to community college districts within the consortia to fund district-level priorities that meet regional needs, with explicit authority to fund student grants for third-party certification and licensing, enhanced student services to support retention and placement, and integrated programs that connect coursework to work-based experiences. The bill also authorizes direct support for paid work-based learning—such as apprenticeships, internships, externships, and student-run enterprises—to bolster employability and employment outcomes. District participation in the regional consortium remains a condition of receiving direct funding, and four-year plan cycles govern the allocation, with annual recommendations due to the Chancellor’s Office and the Legislature for approval prior to funding.

Governance and implementation provisions articulate how policies are taught and practiced. The chancellor’s office would develop guidance in collaboration with the California Workforce Development Board and the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, focusing on increasing aligned middle-skill and career technical education offerings and ensuring portability of courses and credentials across districts. A career technical education subcommittee within the Academic Senate would be established, with a majority of its members drawn from CTE faculty, to advise on issues and ensure responsiveness to industry trends. The bill emphasizes data sharing and regional planning aligned with federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act frameworks, and it contemplates expedited course and curriculum approval processes to facilitate rapid development and transferability of CTE offerings.

In context, the measure frames its approach as supplementing existing funding while aligning with broader workforce strategies. It ties funding decisions to a four-year planning horizon and a weighted allocation formula that factors regional unemployment, the share of CTE students, projected job openings, and demonstrated workforce outcomes. It also directs use of funds toward outcomes and services identified in the Strong Workforce Task Force recommendations, including student services related to career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning, and it contemplates collaboration with public universities and local educational agencies as part of regional planning. The measure preserves avenues for cross-system data reporting, cross-training of staff, and partnerships with employers, including provisions to encourage engagement with organizations serving individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, while requiring that funds supplement existing district budgets rather than replace them.