Bill > SB520

This bill, the Louisiana Jump Start Modernization Act, enacts new provisions for career and technical education (CTE) in Louisiana, aiming to improve workforce development and student outcomes. Key provisions include establishing an independent Louisiana Career and Technical Education Oversight Council to oversee the Jump Start program, mandating cross-agency coordination between the Department of Education, Workforce Commission, and Board of Regents, and setting rigorous quality standards for CTE pathways. The bill defines terms like "Career Diploma," which will be recognized as equivalent to a standard high school diploma, and "Industry-Based Credential" (IBC), a third-party certification recognized by employers. It outlines a four-stage developmental framework for CTE from kindergarten through twelfth grade, emphasizing career awareness, exploration, concentration, and completion. The Act also establishes a tiered system for industry-based credentials and pathways, with higher tiers linked to priority occupations and better economic outcomes, and integrates return on investment (ROI) analysis into pathway authorization and reauthorization. Furthermore, it includes provisions for rural LEAs (Local Education Agencies) to ensure equitable access to CTE, mandates postsecondary articulation agreements for all pathways, and details data collection and reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability, including a comprehensive annual public report on program performance. The bill also repeals existing CTE statutes and outlines a phased implementation schedule.

Education

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26rs&b=SB520&sbi=y