Senate Bill S623A

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S623A

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
establishing a career and technical education diploma

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This bill would create a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway
to a diploma. The establishment of a CTE pathway would provide a new
alternative to a high school graduation that incorporates career
focused education classes and curriculum into school programs thereby
producing more highly skilled workers for New York State's technical
and manufacturing industries.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to
read as follows: 817. Career and technical education pathway to a high
school diploma.

1.a. A career and technical education (CTE) pathway to a diploma is
hereby established. A CTE pathway to a diploma, if made available by a
school district shall:

(i) result in a regents or local diploma;

              

(ii) differ from the traditional requirements to a regents or local
diploma with respect to required assessments, except as otherwise
required by federal law;

(iii) be made available to all students, including, but not limited to
students with disabilities and English language learners.

b. A CTE pathway to a diploma shall be based on a course of study
designed to provide students with technical knowledge and skills and
shall demonstrate that the student is ready for a career as determined
by regulations of the commissioner. A CTE pathway to a diploma shall
include, but not be limited to:

(i) completion of a CTE sequence;

(ii) completion of a three-part technical assessment;

(iii) completion of work-based learning experiences as provided by the
approved program; and,

(iv) completion of a work-skills employability profile.

c. For purposes of this section, a career and technical education
shall include, but are not limited to, a course of study in the
following career fields: agriculture education, business and marketing
education, family and consumer sciences education, health occupations
education, technical education, technology education, and trade and
industrial education.

2. The board of regents shall promulgate such regulations of the
commissioner as may be necessary to establish the curriculum,
assessments and any other criteria that students must achieve to earn
a regents or local diploma via a CTE pathway.

3. Students first entering ninth grade in the two thousand fifteen-two
thousand sixteen school year and thereafter shall be eligible to earn
a diploma via a CTE pathway if made available by a school district.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Today's manufacturing and technical jobs often require special skill
sets and can offer above average salaries and benefits; however, a
shortage of skilled applicants in technical and manufacturing
applications is becoming a burden to New York State business owners.
The creation of a specialized technical education pathway will chart a
new alternative pathway to high-school graduation. Creating a CTE
pathway to graduation would encourage students in welding, culinary,
green energy, health services, mechanical technology, computer systems
and networking and other technical education programs to advance to a
two-year institution or a certificate based program - decreasing
overall dropout rates and closing New York State's middle skills job
gap. A CTE diploma pathway will also teach the skills students need to
attain jobs in a variety of industries, including high-tech
manufacturing, nanotechnology, cybersecurity, biosciences and more.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S.5966C

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :  This act shall take effect immediately; provided
that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of
any rule or regulation necessary for the timely implementation of this
act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.