Relating to an experiential learning competitive grant program in the department of education, making an appropriation, and including effective date provisions

This bill provides for the establishment by the department of education of an experiential learning competitive grant program for approved school districts to fund a multi-year proposal to hire a school-based experiential learning program coordinator to establish and support new and existing business and community work-based partners to expand in-depth sustainable, student-focused, and professional work-based learning opportunities; and appropriates $1 million from the general fund of the state to the department for FY 2020-2021 for purposes of the program. The state board shall adopt rules for administration of the program, and may do so by using emergency rulemaking, including but not limited to rules relating to grant application materials, eligibility requirements, and award criteria. The award criteria shall include that the coordinator must work with the regional intermediary coordinator; a plan to focus on relationship building, student support, and involvement of the local community, including at least five committed business partners, and the local community college; and establishment of core values, host sites off school grounds in a professional environment, summer programming, appointment of an advisory board, and instructor training on profession-based learning. Priority in the initial year of the program shall be given to applications submitted by established experiential learning programs with proven records of continued business partnership and to school districts newly establishing a program. Next priority for grant funding is to award a grant based on grant applications that propose multi-year development and sustainability plans for an experiential learning program. A grant awarded under the program may provide funding for up to five years. Up to percent of the moneys appropriated to the department of education by the general assembly for purposes of the program may be used by the department to administer the program. The department of education and the department of workforce development shall encourage regional collaborations and coordination between experiential learning program coordinators and the statewide work-based learning intermediary network. Moneys remaining unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year do not revert but remain available for the following year for expenditure for the specified purposes. The bill takes effect upon enactment.