SB-845
Education

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

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Expands career technical education programs by requiring updated industry standards and apprenticeship opportunities.
  • Mandates schools to offer work-based learning programs with credit for students starting in grade 10.
  • Establishes a state framework for youth apprenticeships that combine classroom instruction with paid work experience.
  • Creates an interagency workgroup to develop guidelines and standards for career education programs by 2026.

Summary

Senator Pérez's comprehensive career technical education reform package modernizes California's approach to work-based learning and apprenticeships, establishing new frameworks for collaboration between schools and industry partners. The legislation requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to update career technical education standards every five years with input from industry advisory groups, while mandating that standards reflect specific competencies needed in each technical field.

The bill expands work-based learning opportunities by authorizing county offices of education and charter schools to establish programs previously limited to school districts. It introduces formal definitions and requirements for youth apprenticeships, allowing students as young as 16 to begin registered apprenticeship programs while still in high school. These programs must offer flexible scheduling and allow students to complete a portion of their apprenticeship before graduation.

Local educational agencies receive new authority to serve as employers of record for student apprentices and provide workers' compensation coverage. The Department of Education must collect data on work-based learning activities, work permits, and apprenticeship programs. The legislation also creates an interagency workgroup to develop occupational frameworks and coordinate youth apprenticeship policies across education and labor agencies.

For schools using targeted improvement funding, the bill requires offering sequences of at least two career technical courses that align with regional workforce priorities. These courses must articulate with community college programs to create clear pathways through grades 13 and 14. The Division of Apprenticeship Standards receives authority to establish expedited approval processes for youth apprenticeship programs while maintaining educational standards.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB845 Pérez et al
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Education Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Education Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Sharon Quirk-SilvaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mia BontaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 15 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sharon Quirk-SilvaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Mia BontaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tina McKinnorD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh HooverR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh LowenthalD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Steve PadillaD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Anamarie FariasD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Robert GarciaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Darshana PatelD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sasha Renee PerezD
Senator
Bill Author

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Steve Padilla
Steve PadillaD
California State Senator
Sasha Renee Perez
Sasha Renee PerezD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Akilah Weber Pierson
Akilah Weber PiersonD
California State Senator
Sharon Quirk-Silva
Sharon Quirk-SilvaD
California State Assembly Member
Tina McKinnor
Tina McKinnorD
California State Assembly Member
Anamarie Farias
Anamarie FariasD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/27/2025)

Latest Voting History

May 27, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
390140PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Expands career technical education programs by requiring updated industry standards and apprenticeship opportunities.
  • Mandates schools to offer work-based learning programs with credit for students starting in grade 10.
  • Establishes a state framework for youth apprenticeships that combine classroom instruction with paid work experience.
  • Creates an interagency workgroup to develop guidelines and standards for career education programs by 2026.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Steve Padilla
Steve PadillaD
California State Senator
Sasha Renee Perez
Sasha Renee PerezD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Akilah Weber Pierson
Akilah Weber PiersonD
California State Senator
Sharon Quirk-Silva
Sharon Quirk-SilvaD
California State Assembly Member
Tina McKinnor
Tina McKinnorD
California State Assembly Member
Anamarie Farias
Anamarie FariasD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Senator Pérez's comprehensive career technical education reform package modernizes California's approach to work-based learning and apprenticeships, establishing new frameworks for collaboration between schools and industry partners. The legislation requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to update career technical education standards every five years with input from industry advisory groups, while mandating that standards reflect specific competencies needed in each technical field.

The bill expands work-based learning opportunities by authorizing county offices of education and charter schools to establish programs previously limited to school districts. It introduces formal definitions and requirements for youth apprenticeships, allowing students as young as 16 to begin registered apprenticeship programs while still in high school. These programs must offer flexible scheduling and allow students to complete a portion of their apprenticeship before graduation.

Local educational agencies receive new authority to serve as employers of record for student apprentices and provide workers' compensation coverage. The Department of Education must collect data on work-based learning activities, work permits, and apprenticeship programs. The legislation also creates an interagency workgroup to develop occupational frameworks and coordinate youth apprenticeship policies across education and labor agencies.

For schools using targeted improvement funding, the bill requires offering sequences of at least two career technical courses that align with regional workforce priorities. These courses must articulate with community college programs to create clear pathways through grades 13 and 14. The Division of Apprenticeship Standards receives authority to establish expedited approval processes for youth apprenticeship programs while maintaining educational standards.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/27/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB845 Pérez et al
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Education Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Education Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

May 27, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
390140PASS

Contacts

Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Sharon Quirk-SilvaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mia BontaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 15 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sharon Quirk-SilvaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Mia BontaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tina McKinnorD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh HooverR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh LowenthalD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Steve PadillaD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Anamarie FariasD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Robert GarciaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Darshana PatelD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sasha Renee PerezD
Senator
Bill Author