HB 1975

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, this bill requires each public school or public charter school that serves students in grades 11 and/or 12 (a " high school "") to integrate career readiness tools into at least one career and technical education (CTE) course o ff ered to students in grades 11 and 12. For purposes of this bill, "" c areer readiness tools"" means digital platforms and assessments that provide: ( 1 ) Personalized career exploration based on student interests, skills, and local labor market data, aligned with the United States department of labor's O*NET framework or a successor framework for an occupational information program operated by the United States department of labor; ( 2 ) Stackable credentials in essential soft skills, employability skills, and digital literacy skills, recognized by national workforce councils; and ( 3 ) Integration with work-based learning opportunities to connect students with career pathways . The career readiness tools must enable students to earn nationally recognized credentials in essential soft skills, employability skills, and digital literacy skills at no cost to the students. The full text of this bill describes a process for an LEA to obtain approval of career readiness tools from the department of education prior to implementing the tools. Under this bill, a student who successfully completes an assessment associated with career readiness tools and earns a credential in essential soft skills, employability skills, or digital literacy skills is eligible to receive up to one elective credit per credential, not to exceed a total of three elective credits, toward high school graduation requirements. Additionally, this bill requires the department to establish a micro-grant program, funded through state appropriations or existing federal grants, to provide a stipend of up to $100 to each student who earns three stackable credentials offered through the career readiness tools. Th is bill requires the department to provide professional development programs for CTE educators and school counselors on the use of career readiness tools for career exploration, skill development, and credential attainment. The professional development programs must include modules on in tegrating career readiness tools into classroom instruction and work-based learning experiences. This bill authorizes the LEA of a high school or public charter school governing body that is a high school to partner with local businesses and industries to promote credentials earned through career readiness tools as a hiring criterion. Th is bill requires the department to establish a pilot program for at least 10 school districts or public charter schools to integrate career readiness tools into work-based learning experiences in the 2027-2028 school year. The pilot program must include mechanisms for employer feedback to validate the relevance of credentials to workforce needs. Th is bill requires th e department to report findings from the pilot program based on employer feedback to the general assembly by July 1, 2029. Beginning July 1, 2027, and each July 1 thereafter, th is bill requires th e department to collect and report to the general assembly data on the number of students completing credentials through career readiness tools for the immediately preceding school year, disaggregated by school district, student demographics, and credential type. This bill requires the state board of education to promulgate rules to effectuate this bill ."