Sen. Bullard bill to expand CareerTech programs to more school districts

OKLAHOMA CITY – To address Oklahoma’s ongoing workforce challenges, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, has filed legislation to help more Oklahoma students gain access to CareerTech programs. Senate Bill 1203 would direct the State Board of Career and Technology Education, in conjunction with the State Board of Education, to establish a $5 million pilot program to provide grants to public schools to offer critical workforce programs for 9^th-12^th graders.

“Oklahoma’s CareerTech system is one of our greatest tools in addressing our state’s ongoing workforce shortages in critical industries and trades. Even with recent reforms and expansions, there are still many school districts without access to a CareerTech, there is a waiting list keeping students from getting the education and training they need to pursue their desired career pathway, or the programs needed aren’t available at their local technology center,” Bullard said. “This pilot grant program would help incentivize public schools to partner with our CareerTech system to offer in-demand courses in their own schools and help better prepare our students to enter the workforce.”

Currently, there are 29 technology center districts statewide, operating on 59 campuses, 16 skills centers campuses, 396 pre-K through 12^th grade public school comprehensive districts, and 32 adult education centers.

According to CareerTech, there are 47 school districts that are not served by a technology center district. Six districts have come into a service area in the last year. In those districts with technology centers, there are approximately 7,350 students on waiting lists to take courses – this is down from nearly 11,000 last year as the agency has worked diligently to expand offerings to better accommodate student demand, which increased by 9.5% in the last academic year.

SB 1203 would require districts to prove that the program to be offered is not available at a technology center within 50 miles and that it will meet a workforce need. Grant recipients would be required to submit a report reviewing their program implementation after one year. The State Board of Education would also review the established programs to determine their eligibility for academic credit toward graduation requirements.

“In today’s fast paced economy, employers’ needs change quickly and it’s important that our students have access to career and technology programs that can quickly and affordably get them the skills they need to enter the workforce,” Bullard said. “It’s imperative that Oklahoma have a continuous flow of highly trained and skilled students ready to work so companies and industries have the workforce needed to meet their demands. Without the necessary workforce, businesses will be forced to recruit out-of-state workers or will simply choose to locate in other states with an available workforce, which would negatively impact our economy.”

Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken is looking forward to working with Sen. Bullard and other lawmakers on legislation to expand opportunities for career training in the state.

“The need for educational opportunities that emphasize career readiness is growing, which means our mission to provide Oklahomans career training has never been more relevant,” said Haken. “Adding new career training programs is vital to meeting the overwhelming demand for career and technical education in Oklahoma.”

SB 1203 will be available for consideration during the 2024 legislative session, which begins Feb. 5.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Bullard: (405) 521-5586 or David.Bullard@oksenate.gov