The bill proposes the establishment of the Applied Sciences Pathway program, which aims to provide high school students with the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and certificates from institutions of higher education concurrently. The program will be administered by the commissioner and will involve partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment charter schools and higher education institutions. These partnerships will offer a non-duplicative sequence of courses leading to a high school diploma and completion of a certificate program in high-demand fields such as plumbing, electrical work, welding, and more.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific requirements for participating partnerships, including the provision of courses at no cost to students and the ability for students in grades 11 and 12 to enroll in certificate programs while satisfying high school graduation requirements. The commissioner is also granted the authority to approve substitutions for high school credits and to adopt necessary rules for program administration. The program is set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year, with provisions for immediate effect if passed by a two-thirds majority.

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