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  (January 2022) (pdf)

 

Online Excel in CTE Courses by Institution

The following institutions offer online Excel in CTE courses available Fall 2022/Spring 2023.  For many institutions, Spring 2023 availability is still under development.  If you would like information on how to sign up for courses, have any questions, or would like more information on the available courses, please contact the institution directly using the contact information provided with their course list.

Participating Institutions 

Barton Community College 
Butler Community College
Cloud County Community College 
Coffeyville Community College 
Colby Community College 
Cowley Community College  
Garden City Community College
Flint Hills Technical College 
Ft. Scott Community College 
Independence Community College 
Hutchinson Community College 
North Central Kansas Technical College
Northwest Kansas Technical College 
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology

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 (Baseline)	2013-2014	2016-2017	2019-2020	2020-2021
Participating Headcount	3,475	8,440	10,600	13,934	12,529
College Credit Hours Generated	28,000	62,195	85,150	109,226	98,681
Credentials Earned	--	1,419	1,459	1,631	981

 ^{Updated: February 2022}

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

	2022-2023 QUALIFYING CREDENTIALS - approved May 2022 (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 December 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.

Promotional Materials 

VIDEOS:

Advanced Manufacturing	Aviation Manufacturing	Sparks Will Fly (Welding)
Break the Mold (Nursing)	Beats Climbing the Corporate Ladder (Linemen)	Paid to Play (Information Technology)

BROCHURES: 
Put Your Passion to Work - English (pdf) 
Put Your Passion to Work - Spanish (pdf)

POSTERS: 
"Sparks Will Fly" – Poster featuring welding
"Break the Mold" – Poster featuring nursing 
"Beats Climbing the Corporate Ladder" – Poster featuring lineman
"Paid to Play" – Poster featuring information technology