SB 845: Pupil instruction: career technical education, career education, work-based learning, work experience education, and apprenticeships.

Official summary

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

(1)Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to authorize a pupil who meets specified criteria to attend community college. Existing law requires a pupil to receive credit for community college courses that the pupil completes at the level determined appropriate by the governing boards of the school district and community college district.

This bill would authorize a pupil concurrently enrolled in specified community college courses to participate in work-based learning activities, as provided.

(2)Existing law authorizes a group of students to organize a student body association within the public schools with the approval of and subject to the control and regulation of the governing board of the school district, as specified.

This bill would authorize an above-described student body organization to operate a student-led enterprise program, as provided.

(3)Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district maintaining a high school to (A) establish courses of work-based learning or work experience education to provide pupils with instruction in the skills, attitudes, and understanding necessary for success in employment, (B) provide guidance and supervision procedures to ensure maximum educational benefit to pupils from placement in suitable work-based learning or work experience education courses, (C) provide for arranging, approving, coordinating, and awarding credit for work-based learning or work experience education courses, and employing personnel for purposes of providing that credit, and (D) provide or require pupils to acquire liability insurance for off-school-grounds work experience programs.

This bill would extend the above-described authorizations provided by the governing boards of school districts to the governing boards or bodies of county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools. The bill would define “work-based learning” and “work experience education” for purposes of those authorizations, would make other changes to those authorizations, and would make various other changes to law relating to work-based learning, as specified.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 7

“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. September 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 653, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 653, Statutes of 2026.
3. September 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
4. September 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
5. September 2, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
6. September 2, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
7. August 27, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5985.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
8. August 27, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9. August 26, 2026Ordered to special consent calendar.
10. August 26, 2026Ordered to special consent calendar.
11. August 24, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
12. August 24, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.