Bill > HB3552

This bill allows education service districts (ESDs) to establish regional career centers to provide coordinated career and technical education (CTE) support across multiple school districts. The regional career centers will have several key purposes, including coordinating funding for CTE programs, increasing advanced career development opportunities, collecting regional workforce and student data, and developing industry-aligned education programs. Each center must create an advisory committee composed of representatives from community colleges, local industries, workforce development boards, and educators to help guide the center's strategic planning. The centers will focus on creating educational pathways that lead to high-wage, high-demand jobs and developing work-based learning opportunities that can help students earn industry-recognized credentials by high school graduation. The Department of Education will award grants to up to 12 ESDs to support these centers, and each center will be required to submit an annual report detailing student outcomes such as program completion rates, earned credits, credentials obtained, and employment data. The bill also appropriates $3.6 million from the General Fund to support these regional career centers during the 2025-2027 biennium, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing career and technical education across Oregon.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3552