Pupil instruction: high school graduation requirements: career technical education.

Senator Valladares proposes transforming career technical education (CTE) requirements for California high school students through legislation that would mandate a standalone CTE course for graduation starting with the class of 2031-32. The bill eliminates the current option to count CTE courses toward visual/performing arts or world language requirements and instead establishes CTE as an independent graduation requirement.

Under the proposal, all high schools must offer at least a one-semester standalone CTE course by the 2028-29 school year. The course cannot be combined with other subjects and must align with state-adopted curriculum standards. Schools may opt to require a full-year course at their discretion. The bill allows CTE requirements to be fulfilled through district programs, regional occupational centers, or community college partnerships.

Local educational agencies can eliminate other locally-required courses to accommodate the new CTE mandate. The bill maintains existing provisions allowing alternative means of completing graduation requirements through demonstrations of competency, work experience, independent study, and postsecondary coursework. Implementation depends on legislative appropriation of funds, with state reimbursement available to local agencies for mandated costs.

The changes aim to establish career technical education as a distinct component of California's high school curriculum rather than an alternative pathway for meeting other requirements. The extended implementation timeline provides schools several years to develop compliant programs before the graduation requirement takes effect.