The Pennsylvania State Senate recently advanced a comprehensive bill that aims to improve the state’s career and technical education system.
The bill is designed to modernize the career and technical education system, streamline the process by which students receive and transfer credits and help students learn about training options and possible career paths.
The legislation also aims to reduce regulatory burdens and updates references to “vocational-technical schools” in the Public School Code to “career and technical schools” to remove the stigma.
“Career and technical schools offer a viable pathway for young people to find fulfilling, good-paying careers in high-demand industries, but the current system still creates barriers that prevent many students from pursuing these careers – if they even know that they exist at all,” Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) said. “Breaking down these barriers will open up a world of opportunities for young people and ensure that Pennsylvania’s workforce keeps pace with the demands of the 21st Century economy.”
The legislation included language from several other bills on the topic, including House Bills 265, 334, 393, 394 and 796 and Senate Bill 89.