The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently advanced legislation that would make certain credits students earn transferable to job-training institutions and make it easier for schools to establish and renew vocational programs.
The bill is now on its way to the governor’s desk.
“The needs of the workforce continue to change, and schools need the tools to adapt if students are to gain an education that prepares them for available jobs,” said Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover), who drafted language included in the legislation. “The bill we passed today will help schools make needed improvements to their programming in order to meet workforce demands.”
House Bill 265 contains guidelines that enable students to apply credits obtained through certain science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) courses to job-training institutions. The bill would also implement a standard application form for school entities to help provide a clear path for establishing and renewing vocational programs.
Language from Senate Bill 89, sponsored by Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster), was also amended into House Bill 265, changing the term “vocational-technical schools” to “career and technical schools.”