EDGE goals addressed in 2013-14 California State Budget

California's 2013-14 State Budget and an accompanying trailer bill, AB 86, address key EDGE goals of 1) beginning to restore dedicated funding for adult basic education and focusing these programs on transitions to college and career, 2) strengthening career technical education pathways that lead to good jobs, and 3) aligning and redesigning workforce programs to address the skills needs of employers, regional economies, and key industry sectors. Specifically, the budget and the accompanying trailer bill:

Adult Education

Requires school districts and county offices of education to maintain 2012-13 adult education spending levels through the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Provides $25 million for two-year planning and implementation grants to regional consortia of community colleges, school districts, and other regional providers to develop regional plans to integrate existing programs and create seamless transitions into postsecondary education or the workforce.
States the intent of the Legislature to provide additional funding in the 2015-16 fiscal year to the regional consortia to expand and improve the provision of adult education.

Career Pathways

Provides $250 million in one-time competitive grant funding to school districts, county superintendents of schools, charter schools and community colleges to establish K-14 career pathways programs.
Specifies that grants can be used to fund specialists to broker connections between education and business entities; to establish regional collaborative partnerships among business, education and community based organizations; to develop and integrate standards-based academics with industry-themed pathways that are aligned to regional economic sectors; and to provide articulated pathways to postsecondary education aligned with regional economies.

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