256.39 - CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM.
256.39 CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM.
1. If the general assembly appropriates moneys for the
establishment of a career pathways program, the department of
education shall develop a career pathways grant program, criteria for
the formation of ongoing career pathways consortia in each merged
area, and guidelines and a process to be used in selecting career
pathways consortium grant recipients, including a requirement that
grant recipients shall provide matching funds or match grant funds
with in-kind resources on a dollar-for-dollar basis. A portion of
the moneys appropriated by the general assembly shall be made
available to schools to pay for the issuance of employability skills
assessments to public or nonpublic school students. An existing
partnership or organization, including a regional school-to-work
partnership, that meets the established criteria, may be considered a
consortium for grant application purposes. One or more school
districts may be considered a consortium for grant application
purposes, provided the district can demonstrate the manner in which a
community college, area education agency, representatives from
business and labor organizations, and others as determined within the
region will be involved. Existing school-to-work partnerships are
encouraged to assist the local consortia in developing a plan and
budget. The department shall provide assistance to consortia in
planning and implementing career pathways program efforts.
2. To be eligible for a career pathways grant, a career pathways
consortium shall develop a career pathways program that includes, but
is not limited to, the following:
a. Measure the employability skills of students.
Employability skills shall include, but are not limited to, reading
for information, applied mathematics, listening, and writing.
b. Curricula designed to integrate academic and work-based
learning to achieve high employability skills by all students related
to career pathways. The curricula shall be designed through the
cooperative efforts of secondary and postsecondary education
professionals, business professionals, and community services
professionals.
c. Staff development to implement the high-standard
curriculum. These efforts may include team teaching techniques that
utilize expertise from partnership businesses and postsecondary
institutions.
3. In addition to the provisions of subsection 2, a career
pathways program may include, but is not limited to, the following:
a. Career guidance and exploration for students.
b. Involvement and recognition of business, labor, and
community organizations as partners in the career pathways program.
c. Provision for program accountability.
d. Encouragement of team teaching within the school or in
partnership with postsecondary schools, and business, labor,
community, and nonprofit organizations.
e. Service learning opportunities for students.
4. Business, labor, and community organizations are encouraged to
market the career pathways program to the local community and provide
students with mentors, shadow professionals, speakers, field trip
sites, summer jobs, internships, and job offers for students who
graduate with high performance records. Students are encouraged to
volunteer their time to community organizations in exchange for
workplace learning opportunities that do not displace current
employees.
5. In developing career pathways program efforts, each consortium
shall make every effort to cooperate with the juvenile courts, the
department of economic development, the department of workforce
development, the department of human services, and the new Iowa
schools development corporation.
6. The department of education shall direct and monitor the
progress of each career pathways consortium in developing career
pathways programs. By January 15, 1998, the department shall submit
to the general assembly any findings and recommendations of the
career pathways consortia, along with the department's
recommendations for specific career pathways program efforts and for
appropriate funding levels to implement and sustain the recommended
programs.
7. Notwithstanding section 8.33, unencumbered or unobligated
funds remaining on June 30 of the fiscal year for which the funds
were appropriated shall not revert but shall be available for
expenditure for the following fiscal year for the purposes of this
section. Section History: Recent Form
95 Acts, ch 196, §2; 96 Acts, ch 1186, § 23; 2003 Acts, ch 180, §7