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Committee passes career‑education cleanup to fold youth apprenticeship into work‑based learning
Summary
Senate bill cleaning up career education statutes passed. It replaces older 'youth apprenticeship' language with 'work‑based learning,' clarifies reimbursement mechanics for apprenticeship schools, and updates board representation language; committee members asked about for‑profit apprenticeship providers and minority representation on boards.
LITTLE ROCK — The Senate Education Committee approved statutory cleanup that redefines youth apprenticeship programs as part of 'work‑based learning,' removes obsolete statutory language and clarifies payment and approval processes for apprenticeship providers.
Dr. Charice Childers of the Department of Career Education said the bill removes language tied to programs no longer in effect and aligns terminology with Act 1042 of 2017, noting that the change is intended as cleanup and not to alter existing construction‑trade programs.
The bill also clarifies that apprenticeship schools may receive reimbursements directly from the department rather than routing payments through a local education agency. Childers described definitions and changes to cosmetology program approval, and said the workforce development board representation language is updated because a prior association no longer exists.
Senator Chesterfield pressed Childers on minority representation and on whether apprenticeship programs include for‑profit entities; Childers said data on minority participation was not immediately available but that apprenticeship schools include public, nonprofit and for‑profit providers and that the department would provide a list on request.
Committee members also asked about tuition and fee coverage for apprentices; Childers said the school or institution offering apprenticeship training establishes tuition and fees and the apprenticeship office reimburses schools for costs.
The committee voted the bill out.
