Section 37-16-17 - Career technical education pathways for students not pursuing baccalaureate degree; curriculum; dual-enrollment and dual-credit options(1)Purpose.(a) The purpose of this section is to create a quality option in Mississippi's high schools for students not wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree, which shall consist of challenging academic courses and modern career-technical studies. The goal for students pursuing the career technical education pathways is to graduate from high school with a standard diploma and credit toward a community college certification in a career-technical field. These students also shall be encouraged to take the national assessment in the career-technical field in which they become certified.(b) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt course and curriculum requirements for career technical education pathways offered by local public school boards in accordance with this section. The Mississippi Community College Board and the State Board of Education jointly shall determine course and curriculum requirements for the career technical education pathways. The State Board of Education shall require school districts to provide notice to all incoming middle school students and junior high students of the career technical education pathways offered by local school boards. Such notice shall include the career technical education pathways available, the course requirements of each pathway, how to enroll in the pathway and any other necessary information as determined by the State Board of Education.(2)Career technical education pathway; description; curriculum.(a) A career technical education pathway shall provide a student with greater technical skill and a strong academic core and shall be offered to each high school student enrolled in a public school district. The career technical education pathway shall be linked to postsecondary options and shall prepare students to pursue either a degree or certification from a postsecondary institution, an industry-based training or certification, an apprenticeship, the military, or immediate entrance into a career field. The career technical education pathway shall provide students with alternatives to entrance into a four-year university or college after high school graduation.(b) Students pursuing a career technical education pathway shall be afforded the opportunity to dually enroll in a community or technical college or to participate in a business internship or work-study program, when such opportunities are available and appropriate.(c) Each public school district shall offer a career technical education pathway approved by the State Board of Education.(d) Students in a career technical education pathway shall complete an academic core of courses and a career and technical sequence of courses.(e) Students pursuing a career technical education pathway must complete the twenty-four (24) course unit requirements for a regular high school diploma, which may include, but not be limited to the following course content: (iv) Computer programming;(vii) Advanced technical mathematics;(x) Earth and Space Science;(xii) Mississippi Studies/U.S. Government;(xiv) Physical Education;(xv) Soft skills, which include, but are not limited to, communication ability, language skills, time management, teamwork and leadership traits;(xvi) Career technical education pathway courses; and(xvii) Integrated technology. Academic courses within the career technical education pathway of the standard diploma shall provide the knowledge and skill necessary for proficiency on the state subject area tests.
(f) The courses provided in paragraph (e) of this subsection may be tailored to the individual needs of the school district as long as the amendments align with the basic course requirements of paragraph (e).(3) Nothing in this section shall disallow the development of a dual enrollment program with a technical college so long as an individual school district, with approval from the State Department of Education, agrees to implement such a program in connection with a technical college and the agreement is also approved by the proprietary school's commission. Laws, 2010, ch. 381, § 1; Laws, 2011, ch. 517, § 1, eff. 7/1/2011.Amended by Laws, 2022, ch. 370, HB 1388,§ 10, eff. 7/1/2022.Amended by Laws, 2017, ch. 438, SB 2432, 2, eff. 7/1/2017.Amended by Laws, 2014, ch. 397, HB 460, 18, eff. 7/1/2014.