(a) The Career Technical Education Facilities Program is hereby established to provide funding to qualifying local educational agencies for the purpose of constructing new facilities or reconfiguring existing facilities, including, but not limited to, purchasing equipment with an average useful life expectancy of at least 10 years, to enhance educational opportunities for pupils in existing high schools in order to provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary for the high-demand technical careers of today and tomorrow.

(b) The State Department of Education, in cooperation with the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and industry groups, shall develop criteria and pupil outcome measures to evaluate the program. The criteria shall ensure equity, program relevance to industry needs, and articulation with more advanced coursework at the partnering community colleges or private institutions.

(c) The program shall be based on grant applications administered by the board.

(d) Grants shall be allocated on a per-square-foot basis for the applicable type of construction proposed or deemed necessary by the board consistent with the approved application for the project.

(e) New construction grants shall not exceed three million dollars ($3,000,000) per project per schoolsite, inclusive of equipment, and shall only be allocated to comprehensive high schools that have an active Career Technical Advisory Committee pursuant to Section 8070, in either of the following methods:

(1) For a stand-alone project on a per-square-foot basis for the applicable type of construction proposed, based on the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (b), consistent with the approved application for the project.

(2) For new school projects, as a supplement to the per pupil allocation pursuant to Section 17072.10. The supplement is intended to cover excess costs uniquely related to the facilities required to provide the career technical education program or programs.

(f) Modernization grants shall not exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) per project per schoolsite, inclusive of equipment and may be awarded to comprehensive high schools or joint power authorities currently operating career technical education programs that have an active Career Technical Advisory Committee pursuant to Section 8070 for the purpose of reconfiguration. For comprehensive high schools, the grant shall be supplemental to the per pupil allocation pursuant to Section 17074.10. The supplement is intended to cover excess costs uniquely related to the facilities required to provide the career technical education program or programs.

(g) (1) A school district shall contribute from local resources a dollar amount that is equal to the amount of the grant of state funds awarded under subdivisions (d), (e), and (f). The required local contribution may be provided by private industry groups, the school district, or a joint powers authority.

(2) A school district shall not be required to demonstrate that it has unhoused pupils or that a permanent school building is more than 25 years old in order to receive a grant under the program.

(h) The program shall allow the required local contribution to be paid over time if sufficient local funds are not immediately available. The board may provide for a repayment schedule consistent with subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 17078.57. The board shall not waive the required local contribution on the basis of financial hardship or on any other basis.

(i) Applications shall meet the criteria developed under subdivision (b) and shall require all of the following:

(1) A clear and comprehensive career technical education plan for each course of study applicable to the instructional space.

(2) Projections of pupil enrollment.

(3) Identification of feeder schools, industry partners, and community colleges or other postsecondary schools participating in the development, articulation, and review of the educational program.

(4) Evidence of approval of the plan by the entities listed in paragraph (3).

(5) The method by which accountability for pupil enrollments and outcomes will be maintained. Outcomes shall include, but are not limited to, certificate completion, the successful entry of pupil to employment in the applicable industry, and successful transition to post-secondary institutions for work in the applicable industry or other areas of study.

(6) Evidence of coordination with all feeder schools, middle schools, and high schools within the area to ensure that the project and programs complement career technical education offerings in the area.

(7) Evidence that upon completion of the project the local educational agency will meet all of its obligations under Section 51228 relating to career technical education.

(j) Applications shall give weight to the number of pupils expected to attend, the cost per pupil, financial participation by industry partners in the construction and equipping of the facility, commitment to accountability for outcomes and participation, the strength and relevance of the educational plans to the needs of industry for qualified technical employees applicable to the economic development needs of the region in which the project will be located, and coordination and articulation with feeder schools, other high schools, and community colleges.

(k) The Office of Public School Construction shall develop and the board shall approve regulations to implement this article on or before April 19, 2007, and the board may promulgate those regulations first on an emergency basis, which shall be effective for no more than 12 months, after which any permanent regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(l) Notwithstanding paragraphs (e) and (f), a project approved pursuant to this section is also eligible for an incentive grant from the funds specified in paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 101012 if the project meets the criteria prescribed in that section.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 622, Sec. 2. (SB 128) Effective January 1, 2012.)