SB 696 - This act provides students the opportunity to choose between the ACT Workkeys assessment or ACT assessment, including ACT Plus Writing, in any school year in which the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education directs a state-funded census administration of the ACT assessment. This act provides that each school district may rely on technical coursework and skills assessments developed for industry-recognized certificates and credentials when entering into partnerships with certain entities to develop and implement a pathway for students to engage in career and technical education.
The act provides several definitions related to career and technical education and states that the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council shall annually review, update, approve, and publish a list of industry certifications, state-issued professional licenses, and occupational assessments.
During the annual review, the Council shall also ensure that curriculum and programs of study developed by local school districts are compatible with the list of approved career and technical education certification offerings. The Council shall provide the results of the annual review to the State Board of Education.
This 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 also requires the Council to encourage local employers to participate in college and career fairs hosted by local school districts, and to cooperate with local school districts to ensure that the curriculum for the career and technical education certificate includes programs of study and course offerings that will lead to industry-recognized certificates or credentials.
This act is similar to provisions contained in the truly agreed HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 894 & 921 (2018), provisions contained in the truly agreed SS/HCS/HB 1606 (2018), HB 1677 (2018), SCS/HB 1660 (2018), HCB 4 (2017), SCS/SBs 44 & 63 (2017), HB 94 (2017), HB 188 (2017), SCS/HB 253 (2017), HCS/SCS/SBs 300 & 306 (2017), SS#2/SCS/SB 313 (2017), and HCS/SB 434 (2017).
JAMIE ANDREWS