Career center directors across the state have their hopes set that lawmakers can come up with a better high school technical diploma.
Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Mt. Vernon, hopes so too, and is chaperoning two bills she authored through the state Senate to make it happen.
McNamara, told The Courier-Times the current technical honors diploma is a one-size-fits-all solution that just doesn't fit.
"It does not meet needs of current workforce," McNamara said.
After research and consultation with industrial and manufacturing specialists, it is clear that the current technical honors diploma is not preparing students to enter the workforce. Of more than 50,000 diplomas awarded statewide in 2011, only about 600 students chose the technical honors diploma.
"It's not being used," she said. "And students are not getting into the careers they wanted."
If the bill passes the Senate, McNamara said further research will be done by the Indiana Career Council to formulate a better technical diploma, and not one that is simply a Core 40 diploma with six extra hours tacked on.
At least 41 Henry County graduating seniors were awarded technical honors diplomas in 2013.
Career center directors agree with McNamara.
"I spoke in support of the legislation if it allows the applied and integrated academics instead of the plain academic versions," said Brad Street, president of the Indiana Association of Career and Technical Education Districts. "The applied algebra/geometry, for example, has the rigor of the regular versions, but it has the relevance of being applied to real world occupations."
McNamara's hope is that bill will give birth to a diploma that will deliver real-world skills to Indiana students, especially in technical writing, reading and communication, McNamara said.
New Castle Career Center Director Bob Hobbs, past president and current member of IACTED, isn't sure how the bill will impact Henry County, if the Senate passes it.
"It's hard to say. The state association of career program directors (IACTED) is supporting he bill. We've not seen a lot of detail, but the goal is to strengthen options for students not planning to go four-year college," Hobbs said. "The regional works councils will get together and ID what will be on this new diploma."
McNamara's first bill, House Bill 1064, calls for the Indiana Career Council to study and review career and technical education programs to better understand their effectiveness.
McNamara's second bill, House Bill 1213, relates to the development of a new technical education diploma.
"Students have options with the Academic Honors diploma and Technical Honors Diploma, but those options simply can't get at the grit of the skills gap problem," McNamara wrote in a news release.
"It keeps coming back to our students aren't having the opportunity to learn the skills they need for industry. math, technical writing, technical reading and technical communication," McNamara reiterated Monday. "There is a serious shortage of skilled production workers."
Both bills unanimously passed the House of Representatives last week and are expected to be heard in the Senate in the next three weeks.
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