SCH CD-CAREER/TECH ED PATHWAY

Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to offer a program to prepare students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 for a career and technical education pathway by introducing students to career exploration opportunities that allow students to explore a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand career fields. Sets forth what a school district shall provide in its career and technical education pathway program. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.67 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.83 new 105 ILCS 5/34-18.78 new 110 ILCS 148/15 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Requires a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 6 through 12 to adopt and implement a postsecondary and career expectations framework; sets forth requirements concerning the framework. Provides that a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 9 through 12 shall become an eligible school district and award College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act and pursuant to a specified schedule. Allows a school board of a school district to opt out of implementation of all or any part of these provisions through a finding that the board has in place alternative systems for college and career readiness and that such systems are more likely to successfully prepare students for college and career expectations. Authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt rules. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Requires the State Board of Education, Illinois Community College Board, Board of Higher Education, and Illinois Student Assistance Commission to, by July 1, 2023 and in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, jointly adopt and publicize an update to the model postsecondary and career expectations that extends the expectations to grade 6 and includes such other revisions and updates as the agencies deem appropriate. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 2 with the following changes. Provides that by July 1, 2024 (rather than July 1, 2025) a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 6 through 12 shall adopt and commence implementation of career exploration and career development activities in accordance with (rather than shall adopt and implement) a postsecondary and career expectations framework for each of grades 6 through 12 served by the district that substantially aligns to the model framework adopted by State agencies. Makes conforming changes. Provides that the career exploration and career development activities offered in alignment with the postsecondary and career expectations framework shall prepare students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 to make informed plans and decisions about their future education and career goals, including possible participation in a career and technical education pathway, by providing students with opportunities to explore a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand career fields. Allows a school board of a school district to opt out of implementation if the board adopts a specified set of findings (rather than through a finding that the board has in place alternative systems for college and career readiness and that such systems are more likely to successfully prepare students for college and career expectation). Removes the immediate effective date. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Specifies that by July 1, 2025, a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 9 through 12 shall either elect to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements or opt out of implementation. Provides that a school district may elect to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements either by submitting the necessary application materials to the State Board of Education or by the school board of the district adopting a timeline for implementation. Adds to the enumerated findings that a school board of a school district must adopt in order to opt out of implementation the willingness of institutions of higher education to partner with the school district for successful implementation of the pathway and whether the district has sought and established a partnership agreement with a community college district incorporating the provisions of the Model Partnership Agreement under the Dual Credit Quality Act. Provides that a school district electing to opt out of implementation may reverse its decision in whole or in part at any time. Requires the State Board of Education to publish and maintain on its website an inventory of resources available to support school districts in implementing College and Career Pathway Endorsements. Makes other changes.