(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), any pupil eligible to attend a high school or adult school in a school district subject to the jurisdiction of a county superintendent of schools operating a regional occupational center or regional occupational program, and who resides in a school district which by itself or in cooperation with other school districts, has not established a regional occupational center, or regional occupational program, is eligible to attend a regional occupational center or regional occupational program maintained by the county superintendent of schools. Any school district which in cooperation with other school districts maintains a regional occupational center, or regional occupational program, or any cooperating school districts may admit to the center, or program, any pupil, otherwise eligible, who resides in the district or in any of the cooperating districts. Any school district which by itself maintains a regional occupational center, or regional occupational program, may admit to the center, or program, any pupil, otherwise eligible, who resides in the district. No pupil, including adults under Section 52610 shall be admitted to a regional occupational center, or regional occupational program, unless the county superintendent of schools or governing board of the district or districts maintaining the center, or program, as the case may be, determines that the pupil will benefit therefrom and approves of his or her admission to the regional occupational center or regional occupational program.

(2) Adult students shall not be enrolled in regional occupational center or program courses during the school day on a high school campus unless specifically authorized by the policy of the governing board of the school district.

(3) A pupil may be admitted on a full-time or part-time basis, as determined by the county superintendent of schools or governing board of the school district or districts maintaining the center, or program, as the case may be.

(b) A pupil is not eligible to be admitted to a regional occupational center or program, and his or her attendance shall not be credited to a regional occupational center or program, until he or she has attained the age of 16 years, unless the pupil meets one or more of the following conditions:

(1) The pupil is enrolled in grade 11 or a higher grade.

(2) The pupil received a referral and all of the following conditions are met:

(A) The pupil is referred to a regional occupational center or program as part of a comprehensive high school plan that has been approved by a school counselor or school administrator. The approval of the pupil’s parents or guardian may be sought but is not required.

(B) The pupil’s comprehensive high school plan requires referral to a regional occupational center or program as part of a sequence of vocational courses that allows the pupil to learn a comprehensive skill occupation that culminates in earning a postsecondary vocational certificate or diploma or its equivalent.

(C) The pupil is enrolled in a school that maintains any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive.

(3) The individualized education program of a pupil adopted pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 56300) of Part 30 prescribes occupational training for which his or her enrollment in a regional occupational center or program is deemed appropriate.

(4) The pupil is enrolled in grade 10 and has a comprehensive high school plan that has been approved by a school counselor, and the admission of that pupil will not result in the denial of admission or displacement of pupils in grades 11 and 12 that would otherwise participate in the regional occupational center or program.

(c) Each school district, county superintendent of schools, or joint powers agency that maintains a regional occupational center or regional occupational program shall submit to the department, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Superintendent, the enrollment and average daily attendance for each grade level and the enrollment and average daily attendance for each exemption set forth in subdivision (b).

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 728, Sec. 34. (SB 71) Effective January 1, 2013.)