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

Senator Valladares proposes transforming Career Technical Education (CTE) from an optional graduation requirement into a mandatory standalone semester course for California high school students. The legislation would require all high schools to offer dedicated CTE courses beginning in the 2027-28 school year, with completion becoming mandatory for graduation starting with the class of 2031-32.

Under current law, students can fulfill certain graduation requirements by taking either visual/performing arts, foreign language, or CTE courses. This bill eliminates CTE as an elective option and establishes it as an independent requirement that cannot be combined with other subjects. The CTE courses must align with state-adopted career technical curriculum standards and can be delivered through district programs, regional occupational centers, or county-operated programs.

Local educational agencies would need to begin offering standalone CTE courses by the 2027-28 academic year, allowing several years to develop curriculum and build capacity before the graduation requirement takes effect. The bill permits districts to eliminate other locally-required courses to accommodate the new CTE mandate. Implementation depends on legislative appropriation of funds, and districts would be eligible for state reimbursement of costs associated with the new requirements.

The proposal represents a structural shift in how California high schools incorporate career technical education, moving from an optional pathway to a universal requirement while maintaining distinct standards for course content and delivery. This change would affect curriculum planning, resource allocation, and graduation requirements for all public high schools in the state.