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).
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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 (Baseline) |
2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | |
| Participating Headcount | 3,475 | 8,440 | 10,275 | 10,023 | 10,600 | 11,690 | 13,675 | 13,934 |
| College Credit Hours Generated | 28,000 | 62,195 | 76,756 | 79.488 | 85,150 | 92,092 | 105,084 | 109,336 |
| Credentials Earned | -- | 1,419 | 1,682 | 1,224 | 1,459 | 1,420 | 1,803 | 1,631 |
Updated: October 2018
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
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2021-2022 QUALIFYING CREDENTIALS - approved May 2021 (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. |
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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