An Act to increase student access to career technical education schools and programs which are aligned with regional labor market needs

This bill creates a new Office of Career Technical Education within the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to better align vocational training with local job market needs. The office will be led by a deputy commissioner responsible for developing new programs, setting teacher competency standards, and creating industry-recognized credentials for students. Key provisions include establishing partnerships with businesses to design skill assessments, allowing students to split their time between regular high schools and specialized vocational centers, and facilitating credit transfers to community colleges and universities. Additionally, the bill mandates the use of data from student assessments to improve curriculum and equipment, while encouraging the use of existing national standards to validate student skills.