INDIANAPOLIS — A top item on Gov. Mike Pence’s first-year legislative agenda — a measure that would lead to the development of vocational education curricula for Indiana’s high schools — is now headed to his desk to be signed into law.
The bill is the staple of his campaign-trail pledge to reinvigorate vocational and technical education programs to better prepare students for jobs that businesses currently have available but cannot fill.
It allows the governor to create regional “Indiana works councils” filled with business and education leaders. Those groups would spend the rest of this year studying what already exists, and then in 2014 propose curricula tailored to their regions.
The measure, Senate Bill 465, was authored by Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn. It cleared the Senate unanimously and did the same in the House on Monday.
“The passage of this legislation with unanimous and bipartisan support demonstrates the commitment of the people of our state to make career and vocational education a priority in every high school in Indiana again,” Pence said in a statement.
“The Indiana General Assembly took an important step toward making certain that our schools work for all our students, whether they’re college- or career-bound. On behalf of the people of Indiana, I am grateful.”
Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, carried the bill in the House. He said it would also help develop internships and apprenticeships.