HB2325--WORKFORCEDIPLOMAPROGRAM
SPONSOR: Patterson
Thisbillestablishesthe"WorkforceDiplomaProgram",toassist
studentsinobtainingahighschooldiplomaanddevelop
employabilityandcareertechnicalskills.
Thebillprovidesdefinitionsfortermsincluding:
(1)"AdultDropoutRecoveryServices"whichincludesbutisnot
limitedto,sourcing,recruitment,andengagementofeligible
students,learningplandevelopment,activeteaching,andproactive
coachingandmentoring,resultinginanaccreditedhighschool
diploma;
(2)"Employability SkillsCertification", acertificateearnedby
demonstratingprofessionalnontechnicalskillsthroughassessment,
portfolio,orobservation;and
(3)"TechnicalSkillsAssessment",acriterion-referenced
assessmentofanindividual'sskillsrequiredforanentry-level
careeroradditionaltraininginatechnical field.
AssuchtermsrelatetotheWorkforceDiplomaProgram.
ThebillrequiresthatbeforeSeptember1,2022,andannually
thereafter,theDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducation
(DESE)submitarequestforinterestedprogramprovidersforthe
program. Anapprovedprogramprovidermustmeetalistof
qualifications, includingbutnotlimitedtobeinganaccredited
highschooldiploma-grantingentityandhavingaminimumoftwo
yearsexperienceprovidingadultdropoutrecoveryservices.
Everyyear,DESEmustannouncetheapprovedprogramsbeforeOctober
16th.Theapprovedprogramprovidersshallbeginenrolling
studentsstartingbeforeNovember15thofeachyear.DESEshall
pay,uponappropriation, theapprovedprogramprovidersforthe
specifiedmilestonesprovidedtoeachstudent,including:for
completionofeachhalfunitofhighschoolcredit,forattaining
anemployabilityskillscertification, forattaininganindustry-
recognizedcredentialrequiringnomorethan50hoursoftraining,
forattaininganindustry-recognizedcredentialrequiringatleast
51butnomorethan100hoursoftraining,forattainingan
industry-recognizedcredentialrequiringmorethan100hoursof
training,andforattaininganaccreditedhighschooldiploma.
Noapprovedprogramprovidershallreceivefundingifthatprovider
receivesfederalorstatefundingorprivatetuitionforthe student. DESEmustprovideawrittenupdatetoapprovedprogram
providersbythelastcalendardayofeachmonth.Providersmay
notchargeanytypeofstudentfeesortuitionunlessastudentis
earninghoursinadditiontothemaximumlimitcoveredbystate
expenditures.
BeforeJuly16thofeachyear,eachprovidermustreportcertain
metrics,specifiedinthissection,toDESE.Thebillrequires
eachapprovedprovidertoconductasurveyofeachindividualwho
graduatedfromtheapprovedprogramandsubmittheresultstoDESE
beforeSeptember16thofeachyearbeginningtheyearafterthe
individualgraduatesandthenextfourconsecutiveyears.
Thesurveymustincludetheindividual'semploymentstatus,hourly
wages,accesstoemployer-sponsoredhealthcare,andany
postsecondaryenrollmenttheindividualhascompletedincludinga
postsecondarycertificateordegreeprogram.
Upontheendofthesecondfiscalyearoftheprogram,DESEmust
reviewthemetricsforeachprogramprovideranddeterminewhether
eachproviderismeetingtheminimumperformancestandards. Ifa
programproviderdoesnotmeettheminimumstandardsfortwo
consecutiveyears,thatproviderwillberemovedfromtheapproved
providerlist.
Thisbillalsocreatesthe"WorkforceDiplomaProgramFund".
ThisbillissimilartoHB733(2021).