Relating to education, including modifying provisions related to civil liability associated with secondary students participating in work-based learning programs and the career and technical education instruction provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in school districts and charter schools, establishing a career and technical education teachers grant program within the department of education, making appropriations, and requiring the department of education to convene a senior year plus program task force

The bill also provides that a business that accepts a secondary student in a work-based learning program shall not be subject to civil liability for any claim for bodily injury to the student or another person or sickness or death by accident of the student arising from the student’s driving to participate in the program. Additionally, the bill provides that a business that accepts a secondary student in a work-based learning program shall not be subject to civil liability for any claim for bodily injury to the student or sickness or death by accident of the student arising from the business’s negligent act or omission during the student’s participation in the program. The bill establishes that these provisions shall not be construed to provide immunity for a student or business for civil liability arising from gross negligence or willful misconduct stemming from a work-based learning program. The bill provides that units of coursework that meet the requirements of the science, social studies, mathematics, or personal financial literacy instruction, and that incorporate the career and technical education curriculum, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements associated with the career and technical education curriculum. The bill establishes a career and technical education teachers grant program within DE to provide grants to school districts to supplement the wages of teachers providing career and technical education instruction to students enrolled in grades through 12. The bill also establishes a career and technical education teachers grant program fund in the state treasury. The bill requires DE to develop a strategy for attracting additional financial resources for the program from other sources and provides that the additional financial resources are to be credited to the fund. Additionally, the bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer the program. The bill requires DE to convene and provide administrative support to a senior year plus program task force. The bill establishes that the task force is to study and make recommendations regarding the supplementary weighting plan that applies to school districts that send their resident high school pupils to a community college for college-level classes, or to a class taught by a community college-employed instructor, and the policies and procedures that apply to resident high school pupils who are enrolled in a community college for college-level classes under the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program. The bill also establishes the membership of the task force. The bill requires the task force to submit a report, including findings and recommendations for policy changes, to the general assembly by December 31, 2023.