Relating to career education, including by modifying provisions related to career academies, the collective statewide articulation agreement between community colleges and the state board of regents, the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program, and individual career and academic plans

This bill relates to career education, including by modifying provisions related to career academies, the collective statewide articulation agreement between community colleges and the state board of regents, the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program, and individual career and academic plans. Under current law, a career academy may be established under an agreement between a single school district and a community college, or by multiple school districts and a community college organized into a regional career and technical education planning partnership, and such a career academy is required to be a career-oriented or occupation-oriented program of study that includes a minimum of two years of secondary education. 8 (district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program). _____ associate of arts or associate of science degree program offered by a community college to a baccalaureate degree program offered by an institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents. The bill modifies this provision to provide that the collective statewide articulation agreement must provide for the seamless transfer of academic credits earned through a completed associate of arts degree program; academic credits earned through a completed associate of science degree program; and career and technical education credits from an associate of arts degree program, an associate of science degree program, an applied associate of arts degree program, or an applied associate of science degree program to a baccalaureate degree program offered by an institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents. Additionally, the collective statewide articulation agreement is required to include program-specific arrangements that favor the transfer of career and technical education credits unless extenuating circumstances prevent such transfer and is prohibited from including a uniform restriction related to the number of career and technical education credits that may be transferred.8(8) provides that, subject to an appropriation of moneys by the general assembly, the department of education is required to establish a program to provide additional funds for resident high school pupils enrolled in grades through to attend a community college for college-level classes or attend a class taught by a community college-employed instructor through a contractual agreement between a community college and a school district, except that the classes eligible for funding under this program are offered during the summer and outside of the regular school year and are aligned with career pathways leading to postsecondary credentials and high-demand jobs designated by the workforce development board or a community college. _____ of education to establish such program regardless of whether the general assembly appropriates moneys. In addition, the bill provides that the classes eligible for funding under the program must be offered during a summer term and must also be aligned with a transfer pathway or a career pathway leading to postsecondary credentials.11(3) (district-to-community college sharing and concurrent enrollment programs). The bill makes conforming changes. Current law provides that individualized career and academic plans developed by schools in cooperation with students enrolled in eighth grade must, among other things, identify the coursework and work-based learning needed in grades through to support the student’s postsecondary education and career options. The bill provides that this is required to include a discussion with the student related to opportunities that are available to the student through the school district to earn college credit and industry-recognized credentials that are aligned to the student’s postsecondary and career interests.