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Committee advances 'First Credential' bill to expand high-school credentials, concurrent enrollment
Summary
House Education Committee unanimously recommended HB 260 (first substitute), which creates a statewide first-credential program to expand concurrent enrollment, career and technical education, micro-credentials and stackable credentials and funds a master plan and incentives with a $3 million appropriation described in testimony.
The House Education Committee voted unanimously to favorably recommend House Bill 260, a measure to establish a statewide First Credential program that expands existing efforts (previously known as PRIME) to incentivize high school students to complete transferable general-education credits or career/technical credentials before graduation.
Sponsor Representative Peterson and Deputy Commissioner Angie Stallings of the Utah System of Higher Education described the proposal as an expansion of current programs to include CTE, micro-credentials and stackable pathways. Representative Peterson said the goal is to raise the share of students leaving high school with an industry- or education-recognized credential; currently, she said, “only about 8% of our students are getting some type of certificate.”
Under the bill, a master plan would be produced to scale credentialing across the state, a vetted credential list would be maintained to ensure workforce alignment, and funding incentives and scholarships would be created. Testimony described a $3 million appropriation structure: $1,000,000 for scholarships and incentives, $500,000 for a master plan, $500,000 for developing credentials and teacher endorsements, and $1,000,000 for high school incentives and performance funding.
Deputy Commissioner Stallings emphasized oversight and partnership among K-12, higher education and employers and said the program will include performance funding that rewards LEAs when students complete a first credential and automatic acceptance of prior student work that meets credential standards. Lawmakers asked about transferability, AP/IB credit and the relationship with existing PRIME funds; sponsors said some funding and language carry forward from PRIME, scholarships had been awarded previously and the substitute adds funding for master planning and credential development.
The committee adopted the first substitute and then unanimously recommended the bill with no recorded roll-call tally.
