Opportunities For Credential Attainment

Section 2 of the bill requires:

• The department of higher education (department), in consultation with the state institutions of higher education (institutions), to develop and implement a process that encourages institutions to identify incremental achievements on the path to degree completion, organize stackable credentials, and identify how credentials may become stacked into stackable credential pathways;
• The department to facilitate the creation of stackable credential pathways for at least 3 growing industries by January 1, 2024, and at least 2 more growing industries by January 1, 2025; and
• The general assembly to appropriate one million dollars to the department from the workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Section 3 of the bill requires the department to allocate and disburse funds to community and technical colleges and local district colleges to fund student access to nondegree credential programs. The general assembly is required to appropriate $1.8 million to the department for this purpose for the 2022-23 fiscal year.Section 4 of the bill requires the general assembly to appropriate $800,000 to the department of education for the adult education and literacy grant program for the 2022-23 fiscal year.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)