Summary:

 Senate Bill 64 (SB 64) creates in the Public Education Department the Career Development Success Pilot Project and provides for financial incentives to school districts that promote and encourage student enrollment in and successful completion of career development programs. SB 64 provides for the administration of the pilot project and assigns duties to the department. SB 64 requires annual reporting. SB 64 creates the Career Development Success Pilot Project Fund and makes an appropriation.
 

Legislation Overview:

 Section 1 of Senate Bill 64 (SB 64) adds a new section of the Public School Code to create the Career Development Success Pilot Project (Project); provide incentives to school districts; provide for administration, duties and reporting. SB 64 also creates the Career Development Success Pilot Project Fund. 
A. Definitions as used in this section.
B. The Project  is created as a three-year pilot project in the department to study whether the number of students prepared to enter the workforce after graduation increases if the state provides financial incentives to school districts that promote student enrollment in and successful completion of career development programs. 
The Project shall be administered as follows: 
(1) a participating school district may receive a financial incentive for each of the school's ninth-through twelfth-grade students who successfully complete a career development program; 
(2) the amount of a financial incentive shall be determined by the department but shall be at least $250 and no more than $750; 
(3) a student may generate only one financial incentive for a school district, even if that student successfully completes more than one career development program; 
(4) financial incentives generated for a school district shall be disbursed at the end of each school year; and 
(5) financial incentives received by a school district may be expended at the district's discretion. 
C. By July 31, 2025, the department shall: 
(1) collaborate with the Workforce Solutions Department and public post-secondary educational institutions to identify career development programs within each school district and prepare a list of those programs; 
(2) establish tiered financial incentives for the listed career development programs with higher dollar amounts corresponding to programs that are more costly to provide; 
(3) establish guidelines for a school district's participation in the Project; and 
(4) solicit school districts to participate in the Project. 
D. The sum of financial incentives disbursed to a school district each semester shall not exceed ten percent of the sum of financial incentives generated statewide for all participating school districts. If the sum of financial incentives exceeds available funding, the department shall reduce financial incentives proportionally; provided that the reduced amount of a financial incentive shall be no less than $250. 
E. By September 1 of each year of the Project, the department shall provide a written report to the governor and the Legislative Education Study Committee that includes the information a data specified in this subsection.
F. By December 31, 2028, the department shall provide a final report on the Project as specified above that includes the department's assessment of Project and legislative recommendations. 
G. The Career Development Success Pilot Project Fund (Fund) is created in the state treasury. The Fund consists of the usual sources and is appropriated to the department to administer the Project with expenditures generated from the Fund in the usual way. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the Fund at the end of Fiscal Year 2028 shall revert to the General Fund. 
SECTION 2 appropriates $1,500,000 from the General Fund to the Fund for expenditure in Fiscal Years 2026 through 2028 to administer the Project. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2028 shall revert to the General Fund.