This bill aims to enhance access to career and technical education (CTE) by mandating that regional CTE agreements (RCTEAs) include provisions for an access program that allows students from sending districts to enroll in academic courses at receiving schools, either part-time or full-time. The bill specifies that students from sending districts will have equal access to CTE programming as those from receiving districts. Additionally, it requires that RCTEAs develop a CTE access program by January 1, 2026, and outlines the definitions of part-time and full-time students, along with the tuition structure that sending schools must adhere to when their students enroll in receiving schools.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new legal language that allows students attending non-public or chartered public schools to enroll in a regional CTE center that is closer to their school, rather than being restricted to their resident CTE center. It also stipulates that the state will provide funding for students qualified to attend a receiving school under the new access program. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025. Overall, the bill seeks to create a more equitable and accessible framework for CTE programs across districts while addressing logistical challenges related to scheduling and transportation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 188-E:1-a, 188-E:1-, 188-E:6, 188-E:7