(a) The curriculum initially provided by a regional occupational center or regional occupational program upon commencing operation shall be subject to the approval of the department and shall comply with all requirements and standards set forth in the State Plan for Career Technical Education. The department shall approve regional occupational centers only after giving due consideration to career technical education opportunities offered by community colleges serving the same geographical area. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations establishing guidelines and criteria for differentiating between courses appropriate for regional occupational centers or regional occupational programs and those appropriate for high schools.

(b) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prepare and distribute by April 1, 1977, and thereafter maintain, a detailed handbook for use by the local educational agencies and regional councils established pursuant to Section 8020. The handbook shall contain course approval criteria, job market study criteria, implementation plans for administrative regulations, and procedures for securing course and program approvals.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the curriculum provided by a regional occupational center or program shall not be subject to the approval of the department as to any curriculum that is certified, by resolution of the governing body of the regional occupational center or program, to comply with the course approval criteria set forth in the handbook described in subdivision (b).

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1058, Sec. 55. Effective January 1, 2001.)