21-12-105. Career-technical education demonstration project grants; application; criteria; limitations.

(a) A school district may apply to the state department of education for state assistance to fund expenses associated with the planning, development and implementation of a career-technical education demonstration project as a new or an expansion to any existing high school career-vocational education program in the district. As used in this section, "career-vocational education program" shall be as specified in W.S. 21-13-309(m)(v)(D)(II). Amounts awarded under this section shall be used to fund curricular development and project design costs, employ certified teachers to provide course instruction during the two (2) years of project implementation and to fund initial purchases of equipment and supplies, all incurred for demonstration projects which:

(i) Prepare high school students for a full range of post secondary options, including two (2) year and four (4) year college, apprenticeship, military and formal employment training;

(ii) Connect academic and technical curriculum grounded in academic and industry standards;

(iii) Provide innovative strategies for ensuring student access to career choices, as well as opportunities for work-based learning and dual enrollment in related post secondary education courses;

(iv) Support workforce, education and economic needs of Wyoming.

(b) Any amount awarded to a district under this section shall be in addition to and not be considered in determining the school foundation program amount under the education resource block grant model pursuant to W.S. 21-13-309. A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of two (2) years and shall not exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) for the first year of demonstration project planning, and not more than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) for project implementation in year two (2) of the project grant. Thereafter, state assistance for the project shall be limited to funds distributed to the district within its foundation program amount as determined under the education resource block grant model.

(c) Application for a grant under this section shall be on a form and in a manner specified by rule and regulation of the department, shall be filed with the department on or before June 30 to secure a grant during the immediately succeeding school year, and shall at minimum include:

(i) A proposal based upon an existing partnership between the applicant district, the Wyoming post secondary education institution and industry, which clearly documents the need for establishing the proposed career-technical education demonstration project;

(ii) Documentation of integration of industry standards, school redesign and curriculum alignment between high school and post secondary education within the proposed project;

(iii) The purposes, plan and timeline for expenditure of grant amounts;

(iv) Assurance that school facilities appropriately accommodate the proposed demonstration project; and

(v) Other necessary information required by the state department.

(d) Not later than August 15 of the applicable school year and following review of applications submitted under this section, the department shall notify applicant districts of its decision and shall provide each applicant district a written statement of reasons for approving or denying the application. If the application is approved, the department shall award the grant from amounts made available by legislative appropriation within the school foundation program account for purposes of this section.

(e) Each recipient district shall report to the department on the expenditure of amounts awarded under this section, shall in consultation with representatives of partnership post secondary education programs and industry, provide the department an evaluation of project results and shall provide other information as required by rule and regulation of the department to implement this section.

(f) Repealed By Laws 2006, Ch. 37, § 2.

(g) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out this section and shall work with Wyoming post secondary education institutions and industry in establishing prerequisite school district and post secondary education and industry agreement requirements.