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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 153
BY SENATOR NEVERS
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. Requests the Department of Education and the Board of
Regents to jointly study how to appropriately align the Career Diploma requirements and
qualifying for a TOPS-Tech award.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Department of Education and the Board of Regents to jointly study2
how to appropriately align the Career Diploma requirements and qualifying for a3
TOPS-Tech award.4
WHEREAS, only twenty-eight percent of Louisiana high school students achieve a5
two-year or four-year degree; and6
WHEREAS, while most Louisiana jobs do not require a four-year college degree, the7
majority of jobs do require advanced credentials that come with an education after high8
school; and9
WHEREAS, too few young adults in Louisiana have the skills and credentials to10
assume the high-wage jobs offered in today's economy; and11
WHEREAS, Louisiana needs a state-of-the-art system of career and technical12
education provided by high schools, community colleges, and employers themselves in order13
to provide the skilled work force demanded by Louisiana businesses; and 14
WHEREAS, just one percent of high school graduates in Louisiana earn a Career15
Diploma, largely due to a stigma resulting from fundamental misconceptions about career16
education; and17
WHEREAS, the Jump Start program encourages school districts, colleges, and18 SR NO. 153
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businesses to collaborate in providing career courses and workplace experiences to high1
school students, while seeking to end the long-standing stigma against career education; and2
WHEREAS, the 2014-2015 MFP Task Force issued two proposals regarding career3
education by seeking to double the career education funding weight for courses in high4
wage, high growth fields, and providing a subsidy for districts enrolling high school students5
in approved career courses and college credit course outside of their high school course6
work; and7
WHEREAS, the Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and8
Secondary Education support the greater use of TOPS-Tech and TOPS-Tech Early Start9
funds for students seeking Jump Start credentials in community and technical college10
settings, or in other settings outside of the traditional high school; and11
WHEREAS, increased coordination between the Department of Education and the12
Board of Regents would assist with the implementation of these goals.13
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana14
does hereby urge and request the Department of Education and the Board of Regents to15
jointly study how to appropriately align the Career Diploma requirements and qualifying for16
a TOPS-Tech award.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a written report of their findings be submitted18
to the Senate Committee on Education no later than February 1, 2015.19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be sent to the president20
of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the superintendent of education,21
the commissioner of higher education, and the chairman of the Board of Regents.22
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
Nevers SR No. 153
Requests the Department of Education and the Board of Regents to jointly study how to
appropriately align the Career Diploma requirements and qualifying for a TOPS-Tech award.
Requires a written report of their findings be submitted to the Senate Committee on
Education no later than February 1, 2015.