This bill amends existing law to enhance the evaluation of career and technical education in Louisiana by requiring the Louisiana Workforce Commission to conduct an annual return on investment analysis. This analysis will assess the relationship between industry-based credentials earned by high school students and their subsequent employment rates and wage outcomes, specifically focusing on high-wage, high-demand jobs aligned with state workforce priorities. The Commission is mandated to submit a written report on this analysis to various legislative committees and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education by February 1 each year, ensuring that student data is reported only in aggregate form to protect individual privacy.

Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for public secondary schools regarding the collection of students' social security numbers. It removes the previous requirement for parental consent for this collection and instead mandates that schools collect these numbers to facilitate the evaluations conducted by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The collected data will be shared with the state Department of Education, which will then share it with the Commission, while maintaining confidentiality. The bill also repeals certain provisions of existing law that are no longer necessary due to these changes.

Statutes affected:
HB373 Original: 17:3914(N)(1), 17:3914(C)(1)
HB373 Engrossed: 17:3914(N)(1), 17:3914(C)(1)
HB373 Enrolled: 17:3914(N)(1), 17:3914(C)(1)
HB373 Act : 17:3914(N)(1), 17:3914(C)(1)