Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Career And Technical Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves amendment to SB 99 to clarify tuition responsibility for CTE students; amendment and amended bill advance 10-8
Summary
The House education committee adopted an amendment clarifying that sending districts are responsible for certain tuition costs when students attend academic courses at receiving CTE centers, then advanced SB 99 as amended; members debated budget strain and implementation logistics.
A House education committee adopted an amendment to S.B. 99 clarifying that the sending district is responsible for the tuition amount specified in the bill when a student attends a comprehensive high school or career and technical education (CTE) center for academic courses beyond CTE programming. The amendment passed 10–8; the committee then voted to report the bill out as "OTP-A" (ought to pass as amended) by the same 10–8 margin.
Representative Ladd, the amendment sponsor, said the change is intended to allow students to remain enrolled in academic courses at the receiving comprehensive high school while attending CTE programming, and emphasized the goal of increasing participation in CTE centers: "We need to up that significantly and get more kids being sent to the CTEs for this opportunity." The amendment was offered as 1920h and, according to Ladd, modifies the bill to specify that tuition calculations refer to the sending district's average costs.
Several members raised fiscal and implementation concerns. Representative Vicky, who identified herself as a school board chair, opposed the amendment on budget grounds: "My district would now have to make the budget that much more for students who are attending the CTE program ... It's really going to put more of a strain on school district budgets." Representative Patrick Schmoller asked for clarification about whether the amendment required districts to participate in CTE; the sponsor replied that the amendment applies to students already participating in CTE programs and "allows them to stay for the other courses."
Other members described logistical issues with aligning calendars and transportation and suggested alternatives such as remote learning or study by the state's CTE advisory council. Representative Loomau warned that, without state funding, the amendment "doesn't come with any funding" and could lead some sending districts to withdraw from CTE programs.
The committee recorded the amendment vote and the OTP-A vote by roll-call; the transcript lists members' yes/no responses in sequence and the chair announced both votes passed 10–8. Representative Ladd will write the majority report; a member of the minority said they would write an ITL (inexpedient to legislate) report.
The committee closed executive session on S.B. 99 and instructed staff to prepare the committee report.
