Bill > HB498

This bill establishes the Adult Workforce Diploma Pilot Program, administered by the Education and Labor Cabinet, to help Kentuckians aged 21 and older earn a high school diploma while developing critical job skills. The program will fund approved providers, which are accredited entities that can offer remediation, career-focused courses, workforce credential preparation, career placement services, and academic assessments. Payments will be made to these providers based on student progress, including earning high school credits, employability skills certifications, workforce credentials (which are third-party certifications for specific job skills), and ultimately, a high school diploma. The program also establishes a dedicated fund, requires providers to report on student outcomes, and mandates the Education and Labor Cabinet to report annually to the Kentucky Board of Education, the Secretary of State, and the Legislative Research Commission on the program's effectiveness, with specific performance standards for graduation rates and cost per graduate, and is set to expire on July 1, 2029, unless extended by the General Assembly.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb498.html