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California Career Pathways Trust (CCPT)

Provides an overview of the California Career Pathways Trust created by Assembly Bill 86.

Overview

In July 2013, the California Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law Assembly Bill 86, Chapter 48, Statutes of 2013, creating the California Career Pathways Trust (CCPT). The 2013 Budget Act provided $250 million in Proposition 98 General Fund for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) to award regional and local implementation grants.

Under the CCPT, one-time competitive state grants were made available to school districts, county superintendents of schools, direct-funded charter schools, and community colleges for the purpose of establishing or expanding career pathway programs in grades nine through fourteen (community college). These career pathway programs are intended to prepare students for high-skill, high-wage jobs in emerging and growing industry sectors in the local or regional economy. In exchange for receiving a CCPT grant, recipients are required to identify and set aside funding within their own budgets and obtain funding commitments from education and business partners sufficient to support the ongoing costs of the program for at least two years beyond the receipt of the state funding.

On May 30, 2014, the SSPI announced the award of $248.3 million in CCPT grants to 39 fiscal agents including kindergarten through grade twelve local educational agencies (LEAs) and community college districts representing a variety of consortia throughout the state. These grants involve the participation of and partnerships with approximately 647 LEAs, including K­–12 schools, adult schools, and charter schools; 85 community colleges; and 845 business partners. Of the 39 grant awards, 12 were to applicants who sought between $6,000,000 and $15 million in grant funding. The grants are being paid over a three-year period during the 2014–15, 2015–16, and 2016–17 fiscal years.

In response to the strong demand for CCPT grant funding, the Legislature appropriated in the 2014 Budget Act an additional $250 million in Proposition 98 General Fund for a second round of CCPT grant awards. In addition, pursuant to the enactment of Senate Bill 858, Chapter 32, Statutes of 2014, the Legislature codified the CCPT in the California Education Code. Chapter 32 provided the SSPI with the authority to set aside up to 1 percent of the total amount provided for in the trust for one or both of the following purposes:

  1. To provide planning grants
  2. To contract with an LEA for the provision of technical assistance to applicants and grant recipients

Pursuant to Chapter 32, the CDE chose to establish planning grants, known as consortium development and implementation grants, with the first year essentially constituting a planning grant and the second year consisting of an implementation grant. The CDE received 12 consortium development and implementation grant applications and awarded $4.2 million in grants to eight of these applicants. In addition, the CDE contracted with an LEA to provide for technical assistance to CCPT grantees.

For the remaining round two funds, the CDE received 108 applications from regional and local consortia of schools, community colleges, and business organizations seeking a total of approximately $588 million. The SSPI announced the award of 40 round two CCPT grants to consortia around the state. These grants involve the participation of and partnerships with approximately 627 LEAs, including K­–12 schools, adult schools, and charter schools; 89 community colleges; and 1,008 business partners. Of the 40 grant awards, 10 were to applicants who sought between $6,000,000 and $15 million in grant funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

CCPT Frequently Asked Questions

CCPT Legislative Report

This legislative report (DOC; 2MB) contains information on Evaluation of the Assembly Bill 790, Linked Learning Pilot Program, the Assembly Bill 1330 Local Option Career Technical Education Alternative Graduation Requirement, and the California Career Pathways Trust.

Contact Information

For more information regarding the California Career Pathways Trust, please e-mail CareerPathways@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   California Career Pathways Trust | CareerPathways@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-0374
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, April 3, 2024