Excel in CTE Initiative (SB155)

In 2012, Governor Brownback launched a plan to enhance career technical education in Kansas and better prepare high school students for college and careers. Senate Bill 155 was the enacting legislation, and beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, Kansas high school students qualify for state-funded college tuition in approved technical courses offered by Kansas technical and community colleges. Additionally, the "Excel in Career Technical Education" ("Excel in CTE") initiative provides school districts with an incentive for each high school student who graduates from that district with an industry-recognized credential in a high-need occupation (see below for a complete list of qualifying credentials).

HANDOUT: Excel in Career Technical Education Initiative (pdf)

Snapshot of Success

Postsecondary career technical education has experienced significant growth in the number of students participating in technical courses, the college credit hours generated, and credentials earned by students in high school since the inception of the initiative in 2012.

	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Participating Headcount	3,475	3,870	6,101	8,440	10,275	10,023	10,600
College Credit Hours Generated	28,000	28,161	44,087	62,195	76,756	79,488	85,150
Credentials Earned	--	548	711	1,419	1,682	1,224	1,459

^{Updated: January 2017}

National Recognition

In 2013, the initiative received national recognition as “Top Ten Innovations to Watch” from the Brookings Institute.

In the September 2013 issue of Techniques, a national monthly magazine published by The Association for Career and Technical Education, Martin Kollman of the Kansas State Department of Education and Lisa Beck of the Kansas Board of Regents published the article: “Free CTE College Tuition and Certification Funding: KS SB155 at Work.”

Resources

	2017-2018 QUALIFYING CREDENTIALS - approved March 2017 (pdf) Note: ALL technical education courses approved by the Kansas Board of Regents are eligible for tuition reimbursement. This is a list of the high need/high demand credentials that are eligible for the incentive.
	FAQ: Excel in Career Technical Education - updated May 2018 (pdf)

Original (2012) SB155 Legislation (pdf)
HANDOUT: Determination process for the high demand credential incentive list (pdf)

You can also visit the Kansas Career Technical Education Program Search to find information on career education training opportunities from 26 Kansas public technical and community colleges.

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