Report Title:

Alternative Vocational Education Program

Description:

Establishes in the DOE an alternative vocational education program that allows students enrolled in the eleventh and twelfth grades to opt into full time vocational education programs as an alternative to regular education programming. Places such students within state workers' compensation coverage. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1497

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to vocational education.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that not every student within the public schools of this State elects to seek post-secondary higher education. These students are apt and able to be productive citizens of this State with the proper skills and training to carry on a vocation suitable for their interests.

The legislature finds that the present secondary education programs lack the ability to provide skills sufficient for those who would not otherwise attend post-secondary education to enter the workforce with competitive know-how. It is the responsibility of the State to assure that not only each student is educated with the basic education necessary for post-secondary education; but also that each student who elects not to pursue post-secondary education is given the choice to pursue relevant vocational and skills training for them to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

The purpose of this Act is to establish the alternative vocational education program to allow public school students the opportunity to elect vocational education and training in anticipation of entering the world of work after graduation as an alternative to regular education programs that emphasize post-secondary education.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, part II, subpart C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-   Alternative vocational education Program. (a) There is established in the department of education an alternative vocational education program to be conducted at each public high school in the State.

(b) The alternative vocational education program shall entitle all eleventh and twelfth grade students the opportunity to elect an education program consisting of vocational education and training. The program shall be comprised of vocational skills training in the classroom and in off-campus work settings. The election to participate in the alternative vocational education program shall entitle all participating students full course credit for the hours spent in vocational education as if the vocational education were regular education. Each credit earned in vocational education shall apply toward the participating students' credit requirements for graduation and receipt of a high school diploma.

(c) The department, for the purpose of this section, shall:

(1) Develop vocational education programs in all public high schools with an amount of classroom instruction equal to that of two years of regular high school education;

(2) Consider developing vocational education programs that would make the participating students as competitive as possible in the world of work, taking into account past proven vocational skill areas, present trends, and future needs of vocationally skilled individuals;

(3) Set prerequisites and priorities for enrollment in the alternative vocational education program, which shall be available to every eleventh and twelfth grade student in the public schools of this State. The prerequisites and priorities created should be made on the basis that the alternative vocational education program's purpose is to provide an education alternative to those who are not interested in seeking post-secondary higher education;

(4) Establish requirements for and employ necessary instructors who demonstrate satisfactory teaching experience and an understanding of the vocational skills the instructors seek to teach;

(5) Purchase, rent, or acquire by gift any materials or equipment necessary for the programs established under this section;

(6) Contract or arrange with businesses, persons, or other entities who may provide real world vocational and apprentice-type experience for those students participating in the program;

(7) Devise the program courses, instruction, and experience hours to conform to that of regular education to assure that each hour spent on vocational education is equal to each hour of regular education to assure equalized course credits between vocational and regular education; and

(8) Create rules and course minimum requirements for specific core vocational programs, so that if the minimum requirements are met, a participating student's high school diploma may carry an endorsement by the department signifying satisfactory completion of the vocational skills core program.

(c) Section 302A-420, for purposes of pupil profits, shall apply to any student who is enrolled in the alternative vocational education program.

(d) Section 302A-430, for purposes of workers' compensation coverage, shall apply to any student who is enrolled in the alternative vocational education program.

(e) The department may adopt rules under chapter 91, necessary for the purposes of this section."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-430, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-430 Coverage for workers' compensation. Whenever a student participating in a school-approved work-based learning program, including an alternative vocational education program under section 302A-  , sponsored by the department of education or the University of Hawaii undertakes to perform work for a private employer as part of the student's work-based learning program, whether paid or unpaid, the State shall be deemed to be the responsible employer for the purposes of workers' compensation coverage, that shall be the student's exclusive remedy to the same extent as provided for in chapter 386 as against the State and the private employer participating in the program."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.