KRS 157.072: Career and technical education accessibility fund.

(1) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Career academy" means a small learning community within a larger high

school that:

1. Consists of a heterogeneous group of students taking classes together for

at least two (2) years and who are taught by a team of teache rs from

different disciplines;

2. Provides a college -preparatory academic curriculum based on a career

theme that helps students see relationships and connections between

academic subjects and their applications in specific career pathways and

in broad car eer areas such as health science, business, pre -engineering,

agribusiness, and advanced manufacturing; and

3. Provides opportunities through partnerships with employers, colleges,

and the community for students to engage in internships and work-based

learning with adult mentors to motivate students to achieve;

(b) "Career guidance coach" means a person who is assigned one hundred percent

(100%) of his or her time to:

1. The development of students', teachers', and parents' understanding of

broad career themes and opportunities through career pathways;

2. Academic advising and career counseling;

3. Assisting students in the development of individual learning plans; and

4. Providing assistance to other teachers;

(c) "Career pathway" means a coherent, articulat ed sequence of rigorous

academic and career -related courses, commencing in ninth grade and leading

to an associate degree, an industry -recognized certificate or license, or a

baccalaureate or higher degree. A career pathway is developed, implemented,

and maintained in partnership among secondary and postsecondary education

institutions, businesses, and employers. Career pathways are available to all

students, including adult learners, and are designed to lead to rewarding

careers; and

(d) "Career pathway program of study" means a coherent, articulated sequence of

rigorous academic and career and technical education courses, including dual

credit opportunities, that prepares secondary students for postsecondary study

leading to postsecondary degrees, industry certifications, or licensure.

(2) There is hereby created a trust and agency account to be known as the career and

technical education accessibility fund, to be administered by the Kentucky

Department of Education. The fund shall consist of proceeds from grants, federal

funds, contributions, appropriations, or other moneys made available for the

purposes of the fund. The fund shall provide grants to be used for:

(a) The development of career pathw ays and programs of study in high -demand

occupational fields for students in middle schools and high schools; and

(b) The establishment of career academies in secondary schools. Each career

academy shall employ general education faculty who teach the acade mic core

content and career and technical education faculty who focus the majority of

the content around a broad career area and, when possible, employ career

guidance coaches to advise students. Career academies shall provide students

an opportunity to ea rn a high school diploma and simultaneously earn

postsecondary education credit. They shall also provide opportunities to earn

industry certification in high -demand fields, including biotechnology,

environmental sustainability, agriculture, health, enginee ring, information

technology, and other emerging career areas.

(3) The grants may be used within a high school facility, career and technical education

center, or in an area technology center.

(4) The programs may, based on written policies of the educatio n institution in

consultation with and approval of the Kentucky Community and Technical College

System, serve adult learners who may have interrupted their secondary education

and wish to reenter a program or adults who wish to pursue initial study in a ca reer

and technical education field.

(5) Funds shall be distributed through a grant program to eligible school districts and

the Kentucky Tech System on a matching basis as funds are available.

(6) Financial gifts and in -kind contributions from any business or industry, a

community college, or other entity may be accepted to meet the matching

requirements based on criteria established by the Kentucky Board of Education.

(7) Pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A, the Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate

administrative regulations that specify the:

(a) Eligibility requirements for participation in the grant program. Low graduation

rates, as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the

National Center for Education Statistics, shall be high pri ority for

participation in the grant program;

(b) Matching requirements;

(c) Application and review process;

(d) Accountability and data requirements for grant recipients;

(e) Procedures for the reallocation of any unused fund balance;

(f) Grant continuation requirements; and

(g) Other components essential to the implementation of this section.

(8) Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, any unused balance in the career and technical

education accessibility fund shall not lapse but shall be carried forward into the next

fiscal year and used only for the purposes described in subsection (2) of this section.

Any interest earnings of the fund shall become a part of the fund and shall not lapse.

Moneys in the fund are hereby appropriated for the purposes set forth in this

section.

(9) Schools receiving grants shall have an active local advisory council comprised of

industry leaders and employers and postsecondary education faculty to provide

input on long-range goals for career and technical education.

(10) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a school that has begun the implementation of

a career pathway or a career academy prior to April 19, 2012, from qualifying for

funds under this section.