An Act relative to high school professional development programs

This bill establishes state standards for high school professional development programs, requiring the education department to define criteria for instructors, student need assessments, program models, remote/in-person access, feedback systems, and external professional connections. School districts must meet these standards to operate approved programs, with the department responsible for program approval. It also creates a new excused absence for high school students to attend one supervised professional development day per school year, separate from other approved absences. The bill directly affects high school students seeking career-focused experiences and school districts implementing such programs.