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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 153
BY SENATOR NEVERS
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request 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.
WHEREAS, only twenty-eight percent of Louisiana high school students achieve a
two-year or four-year degree; and
WHEREAS, while most Louisiana jobs do not require a four-year college degree, the
majority of jobs do require advanced credentials that come with an education after high
school; and
WHEREAS, too few young adults in Louisiana have the skills and credentials to
assume the high-wage jobs offered in today's economy; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana needs a state-of-the-art system of career and technical
education provided by high schools, community colleges, and employers themselves in order
to provide the skilled work force demanded by Louisiana businesses; and
WHEREAS, just one percent of high school graduates in Louisiana earn a Career
Diploma, largely due to a stigma resulting from fundamental misconceptions about career
education; and
WHEREAS, the Jump Start program encourages school districts, colleges, and
businesses to collaborate in providing career courses and workplace experiences to high
school students, while seeking to end the long-standing stigma against career education; and
WHEREAS, the 2014-2015 MFP Task Force issued two proposals regarding career
education by seeking to double the career education funding weight for courses in high
wage, high growth fields, and providing a subsidy for districts enrolling high school students
in approved career courses and college credit course outside of their high school course
work; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education support the greater use of TOPS-Tech and TOPS-Tech Early Start SR NO. 153 ENROLLED
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funds for students seeking Jump Start credentials in community and technical college
settings, or in other settings outside of the traditional high school; and
WHEREAS, increased coordination between the Department of Education and the
Board of Regents would assist with the implementation of these goals.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a written report of their findings be submitted
to the Senate Committee on Education no later than February 1, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be sent to the president
of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the superintendent of education,
the commissioner of higher education, and the chairman of the Board of Regents.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE