Career education programs receive funding approval

A bill that appropriates funds to the state Department of Education for the creation of career bridge programs was passed by the Legislature April 2.

LB1079, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, designates funding for programs that assist adult students in obtaining academic, career and technical skills.

The bill defines a bridge program as a structured career pathway program, developed in partnership between the provider of the adult education program and a nonprofit social services organization, which assists students in obtaining academic, employability and technical skills needed to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and training and the labor market.

The bill requires that a bridge program:
• provide the English reading and writing and math skills required to succeed in a postsecondary credentialing or degree program;
• lead to the attainment of college credit and a recognized postsecondary educational credential or an industry-recognized credential;
• be open only to low-income participants who are co-enrolled in adult education, developmental education or English as a second language;
• target the specific workforce needs of an occupational sector within the state and provide services aimed at improving education, skills and employment prospects for low-income adults;
• use educational best practices, including contextualized instructional strategies, team teaching, modularized learning or reduced student-teacher ratios; and
• provide for supportive services needed for student educational and employment success, including job coaching and personal needs.

Funding of $200,000 will be distributed annually via competitive grants awarded by the state Department of Education through fiscal year 2015-16 and be subject to reevaluation. Qualified bridge programs will be required to provide data illustrating participant outcomes to the department.

Senators passed the bill on a 42-4 vote.