Bill > HB512

This bill modifies the state's career and technical education (CTE) program by establishing a comprehensive framework for developing, implementing, and recognizing technical education pathways for high school students. The bill requires the state board of education to create a statewide plan for CTE that aligns workforce needs with educational resources, and establishes minimum requirements for a CTE certificate that students can earn alongside their high school diploma. Starting with the 2017-18 school year, students will be eligible to earn this certificate, which aims to provide technical employability skills for entry-level careers or further technical training. The bill explicitly prohibits "tracking" students into predetermined career paths and allows local school districts flexibility in designing their CTE curriculum based on student needs and interests. To ensure program relevance, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must convene work groups from education, industry, and higher education to develop performance standards and course competencies. For the 2025-26 school year and beyond, the bill introduces a new process for evaluating instructional programs using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) coding system, which will help determine which programs can be recognized as part of the CTE certificate program, taking into account existing teacher certifications and potential gaps in certification.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB512&year=2025&code=R