SCS/HB 1660 - This act allows a school district to rely on technical coursework and skills assessments developed for industry-recognized certificates and credentials when entering into partnerships with various entities to develop and implement pathways for students to utilize career and technical education programs. This act requires the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council to annually review, update, approve, and recommend a list of industry certifications, state-issued professional licenses, and occupational competency assessments. A school district may use the list as a resource in establishing programs of study that meet their regional workforce needs.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall identify providers of courses that meet criteria as set forth in the act. The Department shall annually provide to the Council a list of such providers. The Council may recommend that the Department enter into agreements with such providers that will govern the conditions under which school districts and local educational agencies contract with course providers to design or deliver career and technical education programs.
The act also modifies the composition of the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council by adding the Director of the Department of Economic Development, or his or her designee.
This act is identical to provisions contained in the truly agreed HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 894 & 921 (2018), the truly agreed SS/HB 1415 (2018), and is similar to SB 696 (2018), HB 188 (2017) and to provisions contained in HCB 4 (2017), SCS/SBs 44 & 63 (2017), HB 94 (2017), SCS/HCS/HB 253 (2017), HCS/SCS/SBs 300 & 306 (2018), SS#2/SCS/SB 313 (2017), and HCS/SB 434 (2017).
JAMIE ANDREWS