By Jon Parton
Gov. Sam Brownback promoted a new statewide education initiative at a press conference Tuesday held at the Regnier Center.
The Career and Technical Education program (CTE) was unanimously passed by both the Kan. House and Senate earlier in the year as part of Senate Bill 155. Brownback signed the bill last May and it went into effect July 1 of this year.
The law allows for the state to pay for student tuition for technical education courses taken at community colleges, technical and vocational schools. The law also incentivizes school districts to promote CTE by offering districts $1,000 for each student who graduates with certain CTE certificates.
The money for the program is to be drawn from the state’s general fund.
“We’ve got a valuable asset that’s here in the student,” Brownback said. “And now what we want to do is mix that student’s time and talent with opportunity.”
Brownback said the number of high school students enrolled in technical education programs has been decreasing statewide. According to the governor, of 50,000 high school students enrolled in CTE courses in 2011, less than 10,000 completed the program. He said projections show a greater need for CTE training for the future.
“Sixty percent of our workers are going to need to have some technical skill to get the job that they’re applying for,” Brownback said.
Steve Waddell, owner of I Support Learning, Inc., said he supports the new law.
“I see Kansas now taking a leadership role in showing the country that career and technical education is important,” Waddell said.
Waddell said his education software business has had some difficulties in obtaining employees with technical know-how.
“We always struggle trying to find people who are endowed with good skill sets,” he said.
Gene Johnson, superintendent, Shawnee Mission School District, was on hand to address the crowd. Johnson said he looked forward to working with the college on the new program and that he believes the law will have a positive impact on the community.
“There is a huge increase in the poverty in our county and this will give students an opportunity that maybe couldn’t participate because of financial issues,” he said.
College President Terry Calaway said the law will support local businesses by providing more skilled workers.
“We know that this is an important way of helping the community colleges help business,” he said.
Contact Jon Parton, managing editor, at jparton@jccc.edu.