(a) Consistent with the most recent state plan on career technical education, work-based learning opportunities for pupils may be delivered by partnership academies conducted pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 54690) of Chapter 9 of Part 29, regional occupational programs, as defined in Section 52303, programs established pursuant to Section 88532, and local educational agencies, and may include, but are not limited to, work experience education, as defined in Section 51764, community classrooms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 52372.1, cooperative career technical education programs, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 52372.1, and job shadowing experience, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 51769.

(b) School districts and community colleges that receive funding to provide career technical education programs pursuant to Section 52055.770 may include a work-based learning component in these programs.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, school districts opting to offer work-based learning opportunities to pupils enrolled in the district shall ensure that, when applicable, pupils are afforded the same statutory and regulatory safeguards as pupils in work experience programs.

(d) For purposes of this section, “work-based learning” means an educational approach or instructional methodology that uses the workplace or real work to provide pupils with the knowledge and skills that will help them connect school experiences to real-life work activities and future career opportunities. When feasible, work-based learning should be an integral part of a more comprehensive program that integrates academic courses and career technical education.

(e) High-quality work-based learning may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(1) Emphasis on learning in the workplace.

(2) Exposure to a wide range of career areas and worksites in order to help youth make informed choices about education, training options, and career pursuits.

(3) Thoughtful placement of pupils into opportunities that are evaluated for their safety, qualified supervision, and learning opportunities.

(4) Appropriate sequencing of experiences based upon the pupil’s age and maturity, ranging from site visits and tours, job shadowing, unpaid and paid internships, and paid work experience.

(5) Explicit aim to supplement, or systematically reinforce, classroom instruction in technical courses, academic courses, or both.

(6) Systematic attention to the development of 21st century skills, such as communication, problem solving, teamwork, project planning, and critical thinking.

(7) A trained mentor who structures the learning at the worksite.

(8) Coordination between the classroom teacher and the workplace mentor or supervisor.

(9) Built-in regular assessment and feedback.

(10) Involvement of youth in choosing and structuring the experience.

(11) Clear and measurable learning outcomes.

(f) School districts are encouraged to work with local workforce investment board youth councils and workforce investment boards to maximize the use of available resources for youth employment opportunities by coordinating work-based learning opportunities and facilitating work-based learning regional planning.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 254, Sec. 3. (AB 2211) Effective September 24, 2010.)