If new law passes, this acclaimed tech high school won’t need five-year renewals

Facing a July 1 deadline, state legislation has been written that will allow the Center for Advanced Research and Technology to operate on a permanent basis.

The joint Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified career technical educational center at Santa Ana and Clovis avenues has been required under the state Education Code to get support legislation every five years to continue operating.

If approved, a bill coauthored by Jim Patterson, R-Clovis, and Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, will make CART’s operating exemption permanent.

Assembly Bill 760 is scheduled to be on the consent agenda before the Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday, when it’s likely to be approved with other noncontroversial items on one motion, Patterson said.

CART is nationally recognized and also has been visited by international delegations. Students spend half the day at their home high schools and half the day at CART.

“Beyond any shadow of a doubt, this is a 21st century model for education,” Patterson said. “It is so obvious that this has worked and it really is an example for the future.”

Once it passes the education committee, it will go to the full Assembly where Patterson said he expects it will also be placed on a consent agenda.

“CART has done such a good job,” Patterson said. “With the temporary nature of this permission, making it permanent becomes a very obvious reform that is necessary.”

No matter how the Legislature votes, CART still will remain open, said Kelly Avants, Clovis Unified School District spokeswoman.

“Our commitment to CART is 100 percent,” she said. “The legislation is important to keep the current operating model moving forward but we are prepared to adjust accordingly if we needed to … because we believe it’s an extremely important program.”

This story was originally published May 9, 2017 at 5:02 PM with the headline "If new law passes, this acclaimed tech high school won’t need five-year renewals."