SB 1402 Summary

• Reauthorizes and revises the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program, establishing it to operate until January 1, 2018 (replacing the program that was set to expire January 1, 2013).

• Establishes program principles focused on employer and worker responsiveness, data-driven decision-making, private sector partnerships, and accountability for measuring outcomes for students, employers, and workers.

• Creates a competitive grant system administered by the Board of Governors for awarding funds to districts, with decision criteria based on labor market relevance, past performance, and projected impacts on businesses and workers.

• Authorizes establishment of economic development centers and industry-driven regional collaboratives to provide services including skills panel convening, curriculum development, faculty training, counseling, and performance-improvement training.

• Requires the Chancellor to implement performance accountability measures tracking skills attainment, program completion, employment placement, wage outcomes, and business impacts, with annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature, and an independent evaluation due by March 1, 2016.