HB1002: Education and workforce development.

Legislative Summary

Education and workforce development. Establishes the: (1) career scholarship account program (CSA program); (2) career scholarship account program fund; (3) career scholarship account administration fund; (4) career scholarship account donation fund; (5) connecting students with careers fund; (6) teacher higher education and industry collaboration grant program and fund; (7) career coaching grant fund; and (8) intermediary capacity building fund. Provides that the department of education (department), in consultation with the commission for higher education (commission), shall designate and approve a course sequence, career course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study for grants under the CSA program. Provides for revocation of the approval if the sequence, course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study fails to achieve an adequate outcome, as determined by the department, in consultation with the commission. Establishes eligibility requirements to participate in the CSA program. Provides that the commission may approve participating entities that meet certain requirements to participate in the CSA program. Provides that grant amounts that career scholarship students receive are not included in adjusted gross income for tax purposes. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2024, certain school corporations shall include instruction for all students regarding career awareness. Provides that the state board of education (state board), in consultation with the commission, shall create certain standards for a career awareness course. Requires the department to collect and aggregate certain data. Requires the department to publish on the department's website a list of skill competencies identified by certain approved participating entities. Requires the state board, in consultation with the department, to establish new high school diploma requirements. Removes a provision that provides that a student who satisfies an Indiana diploma with a Core 40 with academic honors designation through a certain alternative course shall not count toward a school's honor designation award. Requires the commission to create a list of approved intermediaries, employers, and labor organizations. Requires certain high school and college students to meet with an approved postsecondary educational institution, an intermediary, an employer, or a labor organization. Requires certain committed offenders to meet with an intermediary, employer, or labor organization. Provides that during each school year, a public high school must hold at least one career fair during regular school hours. Amends requirements for certification of qualified education programs by INvestED Indiana. Repeals certain provisions in law regarding a comprehensive navigation and coaching system and career coaching grant fund and requires the commission to: (1) develop and implement a comprehensive career navigation and coaching system for Indiana; and (2) award grants from the career coaching grant fund to certain eligible entities to establish or implement comprehensive career navigation and coaching systems. Provides that the department shall approve career coaching providers for the purpose of eligibility for a career coaching grant. Provides that the commission shall receive, distribute, and account for all funds received for career and technical education under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act. Requires the department to establish and maintain an online platform that allows teachers to access and share information regarding connecting daily classroom lessons with innovations in workplace practices and postsecondary education research. Repeals provisions relating to the industry collaboration certification program. Repeals and replaces a definition of "participating entity" with "ESA participating entity".