An Act To Enhance Career and Technical Education
Mandate preamble. This measure requires one or more local units of government to expand or modify activities so as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues but does not provide funding for at least 90% of those expenditures. Pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 21, 2/3 of all of the members elected to each House have determined it necessary to enact this measure.
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 313, §17, is further amended to read:
Students who experience education disruption, as defined in section 5001-A, subsection 4, paragraph F, who successfully demonstrate achievement of the content standards of the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements in addition to any other diploma requirements applicable to secondary school students as set forth in their school work recognition plans as defined in section 5161, subsection 6 must, with the approval of the commissioner, be awarded a Department of Education diploma as defined in section 5161, subsection 2.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §4801, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 617, §1, is amended to read:
The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish requirements for regional school calendars. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §8402, as amended by PL 2007, c. 667, §12, is further amended to read:
§ 8402. Programs
A center shall provide programs of career and technical education. Programs of career and technical education are eligible to receive state subsidy pursuant to chapters 606-B and 609. All programs of career and technical education offered by a center must be approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 8306-A. The programs must offer a sequence of courses that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations and may include training and education in academic and business skills preparing students to further their education at the community college or other college level or allowing students to use trade and occupational skills on other than an employee basis. Programs of career and technical education may also include alternative education programs and training and education in music, athletics, art and other activities approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 8306-A. A center may also provide courses described in section 4722, subsection 2, the successful completion of which satisfies the diploma requirements set forth in section 4722.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §8451-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 667, §13, is further amended to read:
§ 8451-A. Programs
A region shall provide programs of career and technical education. Programs of career and technical education are eligible to receive state subsidy pursuant to chapters 606-B and 609. All programs of career and technical education offered by a region must be approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 8306-A. The programs must offer a sequence of courses that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations and may include training and education in academic and business skills preparing students to further their education at the community college or college level or allowing students to use trade and occupational skills on other than an employee basis. Programs of career and technical education may also include alternative education programs and training and education in music, athletics, art and other activities approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 8306-A. A region may also provide courses described in section 4722, subsection 2, the successful completion of which satisfies the diploma requirements set forth in section 4722.
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §12709, sub-§11-A is enacted to read:
Sec. 6. Memorandum of understanding with career and technical education system. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System and the President of the Maine Maritime Academy shall each enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Education that establishes a process by which the University of Maine System and the Maine Maritime Academy will each review programs of the career and technical education centers and career and technical education regions established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 313 that are using national industry or state certification standards to determine the nature and amount of college credit that must be awarded upon successful completion of an approved secondary school program. College credits must be awarded upon completion of a program directly to the student regardless of whether the student has matriculated in the college or university awarding the credit. The awarding of college or university credits to a secondary career and technical education student does not entitle the student to acceptance into the college or university awarding the credits.