CA SB1298

Restricts school districts' ability to withdraw from regional occupational centers and programs for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 fiscal years unless the county board of education (or State Board of Education for multi-county programs) determines the withdrawal will not negatively impact career technical education services to other districts' or charter schools' high school pupils.

Requires recipients of career technical education funds to expend allocations in accordance with regional occupational course sequence plans, to meet documented labor market demand, and to focus on high school student needs.

Extends through 2012-13 the existing provision allowing school districts and educational agencies to use categorical education program funds for any educational purpose (2008-09 to 2012-13 fiscal years), with specific exemptions for certain programs.

Makes legislative findings that career technical education programs organized as occupational course sequences leading to industry certification are essential to California's secondary education system and economic development, and must be organized regionally with integration across districts and community colleges.

Requires local educational agencies to report expenditures of flexible funds using standardized accounting codes to the Department of Finance and legislative committees by April 15 annually through 2014.