new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The purpose of the skills path program is to provide students
with clear pathways from high school to careers in skilled work and the trades and create
opportunities for students to enter postsecondary programs and employment-based training
in high school.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Career and technical education dual credit program" means a postsecondary career
or technical education course under section 124D.09, subdivision 5; a secondary course that
has a current articulation agreement for postsecondary credit hours with a participating
institution; or a youth skills training program that awards postsecondary credit to students.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Employment-based training" means a registered apprenticeship or apprenticeship
readiness program, a dual-training program, a workforce training program at an opportunities
industrialization center, or other work-based learning programs in which the student has
paid employment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligible institutions. new text end

new text begin (a) A secondary public school, an American
Indian-controlled Tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83,
vocational center school, or a nonpublic school, or any combination of schools, is eligible
to apply for a skills path program designation.
new text end

new text begin (b) A Minnesota state college or university, an institution licensed or registered as a
postsecondary institution by the Office of Higher Education, or an institution exempt from
the provisions of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71, or 136A.822 to 136A.834, as approved by
the Office of Higher Education may partner with an institution in paragraph (a) to provide
a postsecondary options enrollment career and technical education course for eligible students
in a skills path program.
new text end

new text begin (c) An eligible institution may work in partnership with one or more postsecondary
programs designated in paragraph (b) to create a two-year program that incorporates
secondary and postsecondary credit along with employment-based training to award an
associate degree in skilled occupations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Skills path programs. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education must develop an
application for programs that provide students with clear pathways from high school to
careers in skilled work and the trades to be designated as skills path programs. Skills path
programs must include career connected learning options, career and technical education
dual credit program options, and employment-based training opportunities to be eligible
for this designation. Applicants must demonstrate how skills path programs will be marketed
to students and what other local partners and employers are involved in developing career
pathway opportunities. Skills path programs may be identified in skilled occupations and
the trades, including manufacturing, construction, health care services, information
technology, agriculture, transportation, child care, law enforcement, energy, and other related
industries.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Interaction with education finance. new text end

new text begin For the purpose of computing state aids
for the school district, students participating in the skills path programs under this section
shall be counted in the average daily membership of the school district.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Academic credit. new text end

new text begin A school district may grant academic credit for skills path
programs under this section in accordance with local requirements.
new text end