On August 31st, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that directs key state agencies and higher education institutions to develop a Master Plan for Career Education that will align and integrate recent investments in education and workforce programs, many of which are currently siloed across various state agencies (ex. Youth Job Corps, Golden State Pathways, Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, etc.) Key items of interest called out in the executive order include:
- Enhance career options for students through dual enrollment pathways.
- Build connections between education institutions and business entities.
- Streamline utilization of student financial aid and social service programs.
- Require close collaboration with systems between TK-12, postsecondary education, workforce, labor, and business.
- Uplifts the importance of the Cradle-to-Career Data System, and the use of data tools to help Californians select a career path, including identifying potential policy changes.
- Identify more state jobs that do not require a college degree and remove those barriers. CA has made some strides in this space.
- Main goals of the plan will address strengthening career pathways, including those that do not require college degrees; enhance earn-and-learn opportunities; and reduce systemic burdens on students like access to financial aid.
- Timeline:
- The Master Plan must be submitted to the Governor on or before October 1, 2024.
- On or before December 1, 2023 the key agencies will provide preliminary recommendations to Governor in preparation for the budget season.
- On or before October 1, 2023, the CalHR shall update its existing policies to require, as part of the regular job classification review process for any position for which a bachelor’s degree remains a requirement, an explicit analysis of whether a bachelor’s degree is necessary for successful performance in the position and, if it is determined necessary, supporting data that demonstrates the necessity.
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