Title: Funding for Education and Employment Training
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that authorizes grants to community colleges for the development of education and economic projects.
Highlights:
Establishes the Pathways for Academic Career and Employment Program (Sec. 2).
Appropriates $5 million from the general fund of the state to implement the Pathways for Academic Career and Employment Program each fiscal year (Sec. 2).
Requires projects eligible for grants to link community colleges to industry and nonprofit organizations and must relate to a target population (Sec. 3).
Defines "target population" as including, but not liimited to, the following (Sec. 3):
People with an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level;
People who are unemployed;
People who are underemployed; and
Workers who are dislocated.
Requires community colleges that receive this grant to develop a "Pipeline Program," which includes the following requirements (Sec. 6):
Improve and simplify the identification, recruitment and assessment of qualified participants;
Provide information to participants about labor market opportunities, employer partners, and the requirements and expectations of the program; and
Outline and describe the skills participants will learn and the credentials they will earn.
Requires every program receiving this grant to conduct a career pathways and bridge curriculum development program in order to integrate participant's educational and employment opportunities (Sec. 7).
Requires grant recipients to meet all of the following requirements (Sec. 17):
Attend all classes on a regular basis;
Maintain regular contact with staff members in order to have record of students' progress;
Sign a release form; and
Meet with a staff member in order to develop a job search plan.