SB 612: Pupil instruction: high school graduation requirements: career technical education.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires a pupil to complete designated coursework while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation from high school. The coursework requirements include, among others, the completion of one course in visual or performing arts, foreign language, or career technical education. Existing law eliminates the authorization for career technical education to count toward that graduation requirement on July 1, 2027, or upon the occurrence of a specified event relating to career technical education requirements of the University of California and the California State University, whichever occurs earlier, as specified.

This bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, would delete the above-described authorization and instead would indefinitely require, commencing with pupils graduating in the 2031–32 school year, the completion of a separate, stand-alone one-semester course in career technical education, that is prohibited from being combined with any other course, as a high school graduation requirement. The bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, would require school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools with pupil in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to, commencing with the 2028–29 school year, offer a separate, stand-alone one-semester course in career technical education, that is prohibited from being combined with any other course. To the extent that the bill imposes new duties on school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 6

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 2, 2026Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. May 1, 2025April 30 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 2. Noes 5. Page 961.) Reconsideration granted.
3. April 22, 2025Set for hearing April 30.
4. April 21, 2025April 23 hearing postponed by committee.
5. April 10, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.
6. April 8, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.
7. April 4, 2025Set for hearing April 23.
8. March 24, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.
9. March 5, 2025Referred to Com. on ED.
10. February 21, 2025From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
11. February 20, 2025Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.