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.<\/p>\n
LB1079, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, designates funding for programs that assist adult students in obtaining academic, career and technical skills.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The bill requires that a bridge program:
\n\u2022 provide the English reading and writing and math skills required to succeed in a postsecondary credentialing or degree program;
\n\u2022 lead to the attainment of college credit and a recognized postsecondary educational credential or an industry-recognized credential;
\n\u2022 be open only to low-income participants who are co-enrolled in adult education, developmental education or English as a second language;
\n\u2022 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;
\n\u2022 use educational best practices, including contextualized instructional strategies, team teaching, modularized learning or reduced student-teacher ratios; and
\n\u2022 provide for supportive services needed for student educational and employment success, including job coaching and personal needs.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Senators passed the bill on a 42-4 vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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