Latest news with #CareerTech
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
New Missouri Law Provides Free Tuition For Career, Technical Education
The Missouri General Assembly has passed a bill, recently signed into law by the governor, that will ... More pay eligible high school graduates' tuition for career and technical certificate programs. Missouri has passed a new law that authorizes the payment of tuition for high school graduates wanting to pursue career and technical education rather than attend college. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 150, a multi-component higher education bill that contains the new provision, on July 9. The bill establishing the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program" passed both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly with strong bipartisan support. The idea to cover career-certificate tuition along with required fees and the cost of books was modeled on Missouri's highly popular A+ Program, which pays for two years of public community college for students pursuing associate's degrees. 'This will increase (the workforce) astronomically,' said state Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar who filed the bill in the Missouri House of Representatives. 'And it's great for the kids who are in those career tech programs. It gives them another avenue to make themselves better.' The eligibility requirements follow those established for the A+ Program. To qualify, students must graduate high school with at least a 2.5 GPA, maintain a 95% or higher attendance rate, complete 50 hours of unpaid tutoring and demonstrate proficiency in the Algebra I end-of-course exam. According to the law, which was sponsored by Senator Jill Carter (R-Granby) in the Missouri Senate, the new tuition benefit becomes effective for the 2026-2027 school year. 'Currently a student who wants to obtain a certificate or license right out of high school… must pay for these out of pocket because the courses are too short to qualify for the A+ reimbursement program and are not Pell eligible,' Kelley said in a committee hearing on the bill in February. 'These students are typically ones who are not interested in going to a two-year or four-year school.' Eligible programs for the tuition benefit are those where the required length for completion does not exceed 60 credit hours or their equivalent and 'results in the award of a non-graduate-level certificate or other industry-recognized credential.' Examples of such certificate programs listed in the new law are: The bill also establishes a fund managed by the State Treasurer's Office to pay for the student grants. Funding would need to be appropriated annually by the Missouri General assembly, but the fund will also accept donations. The state has estimated that the new program will cost up to $2.1 million in Fiscal Year 2027 and $3.3 million the following year. The legislation had widespread support from groups such as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Missouri National Education Association. Missouri Chamber of Commerce Manager of Governmental Affairs Cade Tremain said the bill would 'strengthen the public workforce, as well as strengthen the existing programs we already have.' Governor Kehoe had also expressed support for career and technical education in his January State of the State speech, in which he called for enhancements to Missouri's career and technical education programs.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HCS gives update on construction of new career tech center, central office
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Huntsville City Schools is building two state-of-the-art buildings on the same campus near Memorial Parkway. On Friday, the school system invited News 19 to get an inside look at the construction progress. Madison nonprofit celebrates excellent volunteers, community impact in the city Huntsville City Schools estimates that construction on the new Central Office is about 80% complete. HCS expects administration employees will move into the new Central Office by the end of this school year. Right next door, HCS is building a new Career Tech Center to house the district's Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. According to HCS, construction is about 60% complete on that building. The Career Tech Center has specialized labs and classrooms to accommodate various CTE programs. 'It was a lot of fun to be able to design a building like this,' said building architect Frank Nola of Nola | Van Peursem Architects. According to Huntsville City Schools, the 81,000-square-foot Career Tech building will provide space for about 600 CTE students. Huntsville police say crime rates have gone down, while population has gone up Huntsville City Schools said there are nine existing CTE programs and two new programs being added in 2025. Automotive Technology (launching in 2025) Industrial Technology (launching in 2025) Building Science Cosmetology Culinary Arts Advanced Manufacturing Design Advanced Health Science Greenpower Precision Machining Welding Educationand Training Nola told News 19 that he's excited for Career Tech students to see the new space. 'My hope for the students is that they come in and say 'Oh wow, we love this place',' Nola said. 'Then future students, from a recruitment standpoint, come in and say 'we want to go to this place,'' Huntsville City Schools unveiled plans for the new Central Office and Career Tech building in September of 2022. Nola said he's excited to see it coming together after months of construction. 'As we see the building take shape, it's got a really cool form, I think it says a lot about progress in our city and the redevelopment of north Huntsville,' he said. Huntsville City Schools said it expects students to be able to start classes at the new Career Tech center this fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Career and Technical Education is a driving force for economic growth in OK
As superintendent and CEO of Metro Tech, I've witnessed firsthand how education transforms lives. Students walk through our doors ready to gain skills that will shape their futures and leave with the tools to thrive in the workplace and life. The success of our students has a ripple effect on our communities, local businesses and the economy. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is more than classrooms and certifications. It's a driving force for economic growth in Oklahoma. CareerTech is not only Oklahoma's workforce leader, but it also fuels the economy, contributing nearly $1 billion annually and providing taxpayers with a high return on investment. For every $1 of state funding invested in technology centers like Metro Tech, there's a $9.82 impact on economic output and $10.48 in earnings for secondary and adult students over a decade. These numbers are a testament to CareerTech's work to prepare students for high-demand careers and help businesses thrive. Metro Tech serves as a vital resource for workforce development. We provide full-time, short-term, and customized business to fill critical gaps in the workforce, ensuring our local businesses have the talent they need to grow and remain competitive. An example of this is the recent construction of our Nursing Simulation Lab on the Springlake Campus, made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant awarded through the Oklahoma Healthcare Workforce Training Commission. With the healthcare industry facing a significant workforce shortage, this initiative couldn't come at a better time. This new facility is helping us train more students and expand our Practical Nursing and Surgical Technology programs, which will help provide more than 100 new healthcare graduates to the workforce each year. More: Does Oklahoma have enough economic freedom to lift people out of poverty? | Opinion But CareerTech's impact extends far beyond this. Whether it's welding, culinary arts, automotive service, or early childhood education, our programs are tailored to meet the needs of both our students and the businesses that hire them. CareerTech's bridge between education and industry is the backbone of our success. As we celebrate Career and Technical Education Month this February, to take a closer look at how CTE impacts our community. At Metro Tech, we're committed to continuing this legacy of excellence. Together, we're building a stronger, more prosperous future for generations to come. Aaron Collins is superintendent and CEO of Metro Technology Centers, which has four campuses offering full-time, short-term, career and customized business training across Oklahoma City. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Career and Technical Education ensures a strong workforce | Opinion
