The State House Education Committee has advanced a nine-bill package promoting career and technical education in Pennsylvania.
The full House will take up the bills, which have been in the development process since 2015 by the Select Subcommitee on technical Education and Career Readiness. The bills address business and industry workforce shortages, strengthen educational partnerships with the business community, increase access to technical education, and encourage student to take up careers in technical education fields.
House Majority Leader Dave Reed says it’s a much-needed package of bills. “When you look at the shortages that exist today with skilled laborers, but particularly the shortages that are projected over the next decade…we’re looking at a comprehensive manner improving and enhancing our state’s efforts related to career and technical education” to meet the needs of both students and employers.
Here are the nine bills reported unanimously by the House Education Committee with no amendments this week:
House Bill 2155 would amend the Public School Code of 1949 to provide for new vocational instructional certification requirements. Sponsored by Rep. Steve Bloom (R-Cumberland).
House Bill 2156 would create the Career and Technical Education Partnership Tax Credit Program. Tax credits are available to business firms that contribute to career and technical partnership organizations. The available tax credits are capped at $15 million in a fiscal year; DCED will increase the aggregate tax credit amount by $5 million if 90% of the tax credit amount is used during the prior fiscal year. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin).
House Bill 2157 would amend the Public School Code of 1949 to require the Commission for Agriculture Education Excellence to issue guidelines and the PA Department of Education to issue guidelines and expedite the approval process for schools to initiate new CTE programs. Sponsored by Rep. Seth Grove (R-York).
House Bill 2158 would require a school entity to seek representatives of career presenters and considered all career presenters equally. In addition, the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Industry, will develop and annually update standard career informational materials. Sponsored by Rep. Zack Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton).
House Bill 2159 would amend the Public School Code of 1949 to expand an online database of articulation agreements. Sponsored by Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks).
House Bill 2203 would require the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, to create and annually update an easily assessable online career resource center. Sponsored by Rep. Pat Harkins (D-Erie).
House Bill 2204 would require the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industry, to create a workforce development program clearinghouse. The Department of Education will report its findings and actions to the Senate and House chairmen and minority chairmen of the Appropriations and Education Committees. Sponsored by Rep. Gerald Mullery (D-Luzerene).
House Bill 2205 would amend the Public School Code of 1949 to allow CTE programs to establish an occupational advisory committee at the Intermediate Unit level. Sponsored by Rep. James Roebuck (D-Philadelphia).
House Bill 2206 would amend the Workforce Development Act by adding at least one member to each Workforce Development Board. Sponsored by Rep. James Roebuck (D-Philadelphia).
