SECTIONS 9900-9908

9900.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting thisarticle to support the expansion of the Jobs for California Graduatespilot project in Merced into a regional system of local programsbased on the Jobs for America's Graduates model. The Jobs forCalifornia Graduates nonprofit, public-private partnership willcreate a network of local programs to help California's at-risk youthcomplete their secondary education and acquire the basic skillsnecessary to successfully transition into the workforce or enroll inpostsecondary education. (b) The director of the Employment Development Department, fromfunds appropriated for this purpose to the Jobs for CaliforniaGraduates Program, may make grants to applicants for the purpose ofcarrying out programs as authorized by this article. The grants shallbe used to support new and existing Jobs for California GraduatesPrograms in the central valley region in one or more of the followingcounties: Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno,Madera, and Kern. The director shall develop criteria for rankinggrant applications, and performance standards and auditing proceduresfor evaluating the effectiveness of the grants. The director maycontract with a qualified nonprofit corporation designated by thenational organization, Jobs for America's Graduates, to providetechnical assistance to Jobs for California Graduates local programs. (c) The regional system of Jobs for California Graduates localprograms shall be designed to accomplish all of the following goals: (1) To decrease absenteeism rates for at-risk youth. (2) To improve the performance of at-risk youth in school and inthe workplace. (3) To improve secondary education completion rates. (4) To improve employability skills of at-risk youth. (5) To improve employment placement rates for at-risk youth. (6) To improve enrollment rates of at-risk youth in postsecondaryeducation and training.9901.  (a) In order to encourage a regional system of long-lasting,self-sustaining model local programs, communities served pursuant tothis article shall contribute in-kind and financial resources indirect support of the model local program, according to the followingschedule: (1) During its initial year of implementation, a Jobs forCalifornia Graduates local program may receive state funds in anamount equal to 100 percent of the costs of implementing each Jobsfor California Graduates Program site, but not to exceed sixtythousand dollars ($60,000). (2) During any year subsequent to the initial year ofimplementation, a model local program may receive state funds in theamount equal to 75 percent of the costs of implementing the modellocal program, but not to exceed forty-five thousand dollars($45,000). (b) Community partners providing matching resources to the modellocal programs may include private nonprofit corporations,community-based organizations, workforce investment agencies, schooldistricts, and other public and private sources.9902.  Local affiliates of the Jobs for California Graduates Programshall include all of the following elements: (a) (1) A trained youth specialist employed year-round providingindividual and group instruction to 25 to 45 eligible youth recruitedand selected by a school-based advisory committee comprised offaculty, administrators, and counselors. (2) The youth specialist shall provide individual attention tostudents to help them overcome barriers preventing them fromreceiving a high school diploma or securing employment, or both, orpursuing a postsecondary education that will lead to a career. (3) The youth specialist shall provide informal guidance tostudents on academic, career, and life decisions and, based on theindividual needs of students, connect them to professional counselingservices to address more serious barriers, such as mental healthproblems or drug abuse. (4) The youth specialist shall be actively involved in intensive,one-on-one employer marketing and job development activities toidentify entry-level job opportunities for students upon graduation.Likewise, the youth specialist shall assist graduates in theexploration of postsecondary education opportunities and help themnavigate the financial aid process to pursue these opportunities. (b) Youth shall be taught a minimum of 37 employment competenciesdesigned to prepare them to secure a quality entry-level job orpursue a postsecondary education, or both, upon completion of theirsecondary education. (c) Placement services shall be provided to students during thesummer months or partnerships developed with summer youth employmentprograms to support yearlong learning. Youth specialists shallmaintain contact with youth during the summer months. (d) A student-led organization, associated with a state andnational association, shall build on the competency-based curriculumand provide the opportunity for students to develop, practice, andrefine their leadership and team membership skills. (e) It shall serve as a school-based "one-stop center" forparticipating at-risk youth to ensure that they receive appropriateacademic and social services from available resources in the schooland community. (f) It shall provide no less than 12 months of followup andsupport on the job and in postsecondary education after leaving theschool. (g) It shall provide computerized tracking of youth served,services delivered and performance outcomes, such as graduation rate,positive outcome rates, aggregate employment rate, full-time jobsrate, full-time placement rate, further education rate, wages, andreturn to school rate, at local and state levels. (h) It shall provide continuous improvement of results through theongoing professional development of managers, supervisors, andspecialists.9903.  (a) Entities eligible to conduct a Jobs for CaliforniaGraduates local program shall include, but need not be limited to,local education agencies, community colleges, and nonprofitorganizations with an interest in serving at-risk youth. (b) To maintain eligibility after the initial year ofimplementation, participating entities shall conduct the Jobs forCalifornia Graduates Program in accordance with Jobs for America'sGraduates performance standards, receiving no less than a "MeetsStandards" rating on an accreditation review.9904.  To be eligible to receive services through a Jobs forCalifornia Graduates local program under this article, a youth shallmeet at least two of the following criteria: (a) One or more years behind modal grade for one's age group, withparticular emphasis on those two or more years behind modal grade. (b) Below average academic grade point average relative tostudents in his or her class. (c) Above average number of absences during the past school yearin comparison to other students in the school. (d) Placed on probation, suspended, or expelled from school one ormore times during the past two years. (e) Pregnant or parenting teen. (f) Physically or mentally challenged. (g) Involved with substance abuse or criminal activities. (h) Member of an economically disadvantaged family. (i) Lives with only one or neither of his or her natural parents. (j) Receives little or no academic or social support from home orfamily. (k) Mother has not graduated from high school. (l) Closest friends have limited educational expectations. Forexample, they do not expect to graduate from high school or havealready dropped out of high school.9905.  (a) For purposes of establishing and expanding theseprograms, the department shall, to the extent feasible, make localgrants available throughout the region. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), it is the intent of theLegislature that Jobs for California Graduates local programs beconducted in a broad range of settings, including urban, suburban,and rural districts, which are representative of all California youthduring the initial year of the regional program, in order to testthe effectiveness of the model local programs throughout the state.9907.  (a) The department shall submit an annual report to theLegislature on the performance outcomes of the Jobs for CaliforniaGraduates local programs on an annual basis. (b) The department shall report the following outcomes at the endof the 12-month followup period: (1) Secondary education completion rate as compared to the Jobsfor America's Graduates standard of 90 percent for seniorparticipants. (2) Positive outcomes rate, such as youth employed, enrolled in apostsecondary institution, or serving in the military, or all ofthese, as compared to the Jobs for America's Graduates standard of 80percent positive outcomes for graduates. (3) Full-time placement rate, such as youth engaged in full-timeemployment, full-time military, or combining postsecondary educationwith employment. (4) All other participant outcomes as required by the Governorunder Section 122(h) of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998.9908.  State funds made available pursuant to this article shall beused to carry out both of the following: (a) The Jobs for California Graduates local program elementsspecified in Section 9902. (b) Regional management and technical assistance activities,including, but not limited to, all of the following: (1) Operation of an office, including the hiring of staff, thatshall be responsible for managing and monitoring model local programcompliance. (2) Conducting research and evaluation of all Jobs for CaliforniaGraduates local programs, retaining a third-party provider asappropriate. (3) Making available regional training and developmentopportunities for consistent, effective implementation of the modellocal programs. (4) Conducting educational and outreach activities to engageprivate and public sector employers, secondary and postsecondaryeducational institutions, the military, state and local electedofficials, community and social service organizations, and otherinterested parties. (5) Conducting regional activities for students, including, at aminimum, a leadership development conference and a career developmentconference. (6) Providing for the continuous improvement of model localprogram performance outcomes. (7) Developing and maintaining state and local partnerships withprivate and public employers, secondary and postsecondary educationalinstitutions, and community and social services organizations. (8) Providing other support and oversight to promote thecontinuous improvement of Jobs for California Graduates localprograms. (9) Directly operating local programs as appropriate.