| Summary |
Joint Budget Committee. The bill creates a postsecondary and
workforce readiness funding model that includes 3 types of funding:
Start-up funding, innovation grant funding, and sustain funding. The state
board of education (state board) is authorized to adopt rules concerning
these funding sources.
For the 2025-26 budget year through the 2027-28 budget year, the
department of education (department) will determine each local education
provider's start-up funding, which is used for eligible expenses that are
associated with developing and implementing a postsecondary and
workforce readiness program. Start-up funding gradually phases out and
repeals after the 2027-28 budget year.
Beginning in the 2028-29 budget year, innovation grant funding
is for eligible expenses that are associated with developing and
implementing a postsecondary and workforce readiness program. Local
education providers that are required to adopt a priority improvement plan
or a turnaround plan, or authorize schools that are required to adopt a
priority improvement plan or turnaround plan, for the current or prior
budget year and demonstrate, or authorize a school that demonstrates, a
low level of attainment on the postsecondary workforce readiness
indicator for the prior school year are eligible for innovation grant
funding.
Sustain funding is used to reimburse local education providers'
expenses for students who, in the preceding budget year, successfully
satisfied postsecondary credit, industry-recognized credential, or
work-based learning requirements. For the 2026-27 budget year, of total
sustain funding, a certain percentage is for reimbursing postsecondary
credit attainment, reimbursing industry-recognized credentials, and
reimbursing work-based learning. For the 2027-28 budget year, and
budget years thereafter, the state board may adjust the percentages for
these categories.
The bill repeals the accelerating students through concurrent
enrollment program and career development success program after the
2025-26 budget year. Upon passage, the bill repeals the:
•
Concurrent enrollment expansion and innovation grant
program; and
•
John W. Buckner automatic enrollment in advanced
courses grant program.
The bill makes conforming amendments necessary to reflect these
changes.
The bill requires the department to convene a working group that
includes educators to report its findings and recommendations concerning
the effectiveness of the teacher retention and preparation program and the
pathways in technology early college high schools.
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