As Amended by Senate Committee
Session of 2024
SENATE BILL No. 438
By Committee on Education
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AN ACT concerning postsecondary education; relating to the AO-K
program; eliminating the requirement to subtract other aid from the
state payment; amending K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 74-32,267 and repealing
the existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 74-32,267 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 74-32,267. (a) There is hereby established the AO-K to work
program. The provisions of this program shall apply to all adult education
programs in the state.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "AO-K" or "accelerating opportunity: Kansas" means a career
pathways program model that assists students in obtaining a high school
equivalency, becoming ready for transferable college-level courses and
earning an industry credential.
(2) "Career readiness assessment" means an assessment approved by
the state board of regents to measure foundational skills required for
success in the workplace and workplace skills that affect job performance.
(3) "Career readiness certificate" means a certificate that uses a career
readiness assessment approved by the state board of regents to document
an individual's skills in applied math, graphic literacy and workplace
documents.
(4) "Community college" means a community college as defined in
K.S.A. 71-701, and amendments thereto.
(5) "Industry recognized credential" means a credential recognized by
multiple employers across an industry as determined by the state board of
regents.
(6) "Kansas adult education program" means any educational
institution or approved agency that receives adult education funding
through the state board of regents; provides adult education or English
language acquisition programs; serves Kansas adults aged 16 and over
who are in need of basic skills for the workforce, community participation
and family life; and prepares adults for achieving industry recognized
credentials and college certificates and degrees.
(7) "Qualified student" means an individual who has:
(A) Attained the age of 21 years of age;
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(B) not been awarded a high school diploma;
(C) been accepted into a Kansas adult education program;
(D) demonstrated high school equivalency by meeting the criteria
established by the state board of regents pursuant to this section; and
(E) declared an AO-K career pathway interest.
(8) "Technical college" means a technical college as such term is
defined in K.S.A. 71-1802, and amendments thereto.
(c) The state board of regents shall award a Kansas high school
equivalency credential to any qualified student who:
(1) Is recommended and approved to participate in a AO-K career
pathway approved by the state board of regents for college credit;
(2) successfully completes an approved AO-K career pathway and
receives the industry-recognized credential appropriate to the completed
pathway;
(3) takes a career readiness assessment and earns a career readiness
certificate at a level approved by the state board of regents; and
(4) satisfies any other requirements deemed necessary by the state
board of regents.
(d) (1) While participating in the enrolled in an AO-K to work
program, qualified all students shall be provided reasonable access to all
available student resources of the adult education program, the
participating technical or community college and the appropriate
community partners, including, but not limited to, appropriate academic
support, barrier mitigation, employment or career assistance, books, tools
and personal materials required to participate in an AO-K career pathway
program and industry examinations.
(2) Subject to appropriations, financial assistance the amount of a
state payment for books, tools, personal materials and industry
examinations shall be the aggregate amount of the cost of books, tools,
personal materials and industry examinations for the career pathway
program at the technical college or community college where such student
is enrolled and receiving assistance minus the aggregate amount of all
other aid awarded to such student. The amount of financial assistance such
payment provided for each student shall not exceed $500 over the lifetime
of the student.
(e) Each application to the state board of regents for issuance or
duplication of a Kansas high school equivalency credential shall be
accompanied by a fee established by the state board of regents in an
amount of not more than $25. On or before June 1 of each year, the state
board of regents shall determine the amount of revenue required to
properly administer the provisions of this section during the next ensuing
fiscal year and shall establish the Kansas high school equivalency
credentials processing fee for such year in the amount deemed necessary
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for such purposes. Such fee shall become effective on the succeeding July
1 of each year. The state board of regents shall remit all moneys received
by or for it from Kansas high school equivalency credentials processing
fees to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-
4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the
state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the
credit of the Kansas high school equivalency credential processing fees
fund, which fund is hereby established in the state treasury, and shall be
used only for the payment of expenses connected with the processing,
issuance, or duplication of Kansas high school equivalency credentials,
and for the keeping of records by the state board of regents. All
expenditures from the Kansas high school equivalency credential
processing fees fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts
upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to
vouchers approved by the state board of regents or by a person or persons
designated by the state board.
(f) The state board of regents may adopt rules and regulations to
implement and administer the provisions of this act.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 74-32,267 is hereby repealed.
Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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