Bill Summary for H 640 (2023-2024)

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Summary date: 

Apr 17 2023

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
House Bill 640 (Public) Filed Monday, April 17, 2023
AN ACT TO ENACT THE CAREER PATH OPTIONS TRANSPARENCY ACT.
Intro. by Johnson, Winslow, Tyson, Paré.

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Bill summary

Amends GS 116-209.16A, which requires the State Education Authority to provide information on a website under the "Know Before You Go" section to assist students and parents in selecting major and career options. Requires information on the website to assist in selection of major and career options in the State as well as each of the State's prosperity zones. Sets out definitions that apply in the statute. Amends the information that must be provided for career options to also include highest demand career areas and information on projected needs in the labor economy in the State and each prosperity zone. Amends the information that must be provided for major options to include information based on aggregate data for outcomes of public and private institutions of higher education and vocational and technical schools (was, public and private institutions of higher education only) in North Carolina. Expands upon the outcome information that is to be included as follows: (1) adds average tuition for public and private institutions of higher education and vocational and technical schools; (2) requires average and median amounts of loan debt upon graduation to also be listed among graduates for four-year institutions of higher education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools; (3) adds average monthly student loan payments from four-year institutions of higher education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools; (4) requires average and median salary to also be listed among graduates from four-year institutions of higher education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools; and (5) requires the percentage of graduates employed within six months of graduation to be listed among graduates from four-year institutions of higher education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. Effective January 1, 2024.

Amends GS 115C-12 to add to the State Board of Education's (State Board) duties the requirement for the State Board and Department of Public Instruction to collaborate with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor in collecting data for local boards of education to provide to sophomores to enable them to make informed decisions about postsecondary education choices and their professional futures through the "Know Before You Go" programs. Effective January 1, 2024, amends GS 115C-47 by requiring local boards of education to provide a program for high school sophomores with the information contained on the "Know Before You Go" website and the information compiled by the Department of Public Instruction to allow students to make informed decisions about postsecondary education choices and their professional futures.

Requires, through the longitudinal data system, that the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Public Instruction annually collect and compile data for the "Know Before You Go" website and for the programs operated by local boards of education under amended GS 115C-47, including at least the 10 stated elements, including: (1) the most in-demand jobs in the state and each prosperity zone, including the starting salary and education level required for those jobs; (2) the average three-year student loan default rate for all public and private institutions of higher education and vocational and technical schools in the state; (3) the average graduation rate for all public and private institutions of higher education and vocational and technical schools in the state; (4) the share of college graduates working in an occupation that does not require a college degree for each major; and (5) average starting salaries for graduates from various types of programs. 

Requires, from funds appropriated in this section, that the Department of Public Instruction establish the Career Path Options Grant Program for the 2023-24 school year for local boards of education to apply for funds to provide students with the information required under amended GS 115C-47. Requires grant funds to be used to promote and distribute program materials, including printing and distribution costs, and allows using funds to hire or pay supplemental compensation to career coaches or career development coordinators to support students through the program. Appropriates $500,000 for 2023-24 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to implement the grant program. Effective July 1, 2023.