Section 52485.

(a) The Legislature recognizes that home economics career technical education includes two distinct programs, consumer home economics education which is crucial to the economic and social well-being of individuals and families, and home economics related occupation programs, which provide a continued source of trained and qualified individuals for employment in various fields, including child development and education, consumer services, fashion design, manufacturing and merchandising, food science, dietetics and nutrition, food service and hospitality, hospitality, tourism and recreation, interior design, furnishings, and maintenance. These industries are of central importance to the economic growth and development of the state, and their maintenance requires a continued source of trained and qualified individuals in order to maintain a productive workforce.

(b) The Legislature hereby declares that it is in the best interests of the people of the State of California that a comprehensive home economics careers and technology career technical program be created and maintained by the public school system to include instruction in consumer home economics education, which prepares individuals for effective personal life management and to be a member of a well-functioning family, and instruction in home economics related occupations education, in order to ensure both an adequate supply of trained and skilled individuals, and appropriate representation of racial and ethnic groups in all phases of the industries.

(c) For this purpose, the Legislature affirms that a program of home economics career technical education shall be a part of the curriculum of the public school system and made readily available to all school districts which may, at their option, include programs in career technical home economics education as a part of the curriculum of that district.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 75. Effective January 1, 2002.)