INDIANAPOLIS— Legislation that would launch a study on how Indiana can more effectively use about $100 million in state funding for career and technical education passed an Indiana House committee Thursday.
The bill, authored by state Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Mount Vernon, would task the Indiana Career Council to study the impact of career and technical education programs in areas such as college and career readiness. The study, which was called for by Gov. Mike Pence, also would explore current partnerships between those programs and secondary college and university facilities.
“We just don’t know where all those types of things are across the state,” McNamara said. “We’d like to get an idea of where those exchanges are taking place.”
The House Education Committee unanimously passed the bill.
The study also will make recommendations on courses that lead to employment in high-wage and high-demand jobs and ways to add performance funding to increase completion of industry-recognized credentials and dual credit courses, according to the bill.
Along with the study, McNamara also is carrying a bill that would lead to the creation of a career and technical diploma. That bill also has been referred to the House Education Committee.
In his State of the State speech Tuesday, Pence touched on the study.
“While anyone who wants to go to college should be encouraged to go, there are a lot of good jobs in Indiana that don’t require a college degree,” Pence said. “These new partnerships will make our schools work for all our kids.”