[ §302A-453] Industry-recognized credentials; career development success program.

547 words·~2 min read·/hi/302a-453

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(a)There is established within the department a career development success program to provide financial incentives for participating high schools to encourage students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in public high schools to enroll in and successfully complete qualified industry-credential programs.

(b)Beginning with the 2022-2023 fiscal year, each participating school may receive up to $1,000 for each pupil who, in the preceding fiscal year, successfully completes a qualified industry-credential program. The funds shall be distributed to participating schools as provided in subsections

(e)and (f).

(c)Each participating school may decide annually whether to participate in the career development success program.

(d)The department shall create a process with a deadline for participating schools to report student credential attainment.

(e)For each fiscal year, the department shall distribute to each participating school an amount equal to $1,000 multiplied by the number of pupils reported by the participating school as successfully earning an industry certificate by completing a qualified industry-credential program; provided that a participating school shall not receive a distribution for more than ten per cent of the total number of completed industry certificates reported by all participating schools.

(f)For each fiscal year, the department shall distribute funds in the following order until all funds are disbursed:

(1)Based on the order received by the department, funds shall be distributed first to participating schools for all who attained Advanced Credentials;

(2)Based on the order received by the department, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Door Opener Credentials;

(3)Based on the order received by the department, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Springboard Credentials;

(4)Based on the order received by the department, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Foundational Credentials; and

(5)Any remaining funds shall be deposited into the general fund.

(g)Each participating school shall regularly communicate to all high school students the availability of qualified industry-credential programs and the benefits a student receives as a result of successfully completing one of the programs or courses. The participating school shall design the communications to students with the goal of increasing participation in the qualified industry-credential programs and courses across all student subgroups.

(h)As used in this section:

"Advanced Credentials" means credentials that signal proficiency in industry-specific skills for priority occupations that may also require a bachelor's degree , as determined by the department.

"Door Opener Credentials" means credentials that signal proficiency in industry-specific skills for priority occupations that require some post-secondary education, including certificates and associate degrees, as determined by the department.

"Foundational Credentials" means credentials that prepare learners with essential knowledge and skills for a range of priority occupations, including workplace safety, as determined by the department.

"Participating school" means a public high school that chooses to participate in the career development success program established pursuant to this section.

"Qualified industry-credential program" means a program that is recognized by the department as offering students the opportunity to attain a high-value industry credential.

"Springboard Credentials" means credentials that signal proficiency in industry-specific skills for priority occupations that often do not require a postsecondary certificate or degree, as determined by the department. [L 2022, c 143, §2]