2025 SESSION

SENATE SUBSTITUTE

24107526D

SENATE BILL NO. 563

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations

on February 8, 2024)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Hackworth)

A BILL to direct the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System, to study the feasibility of and make recommendations on developing a plan for establishing in Planning District 2 a regional career and technical education program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department of Education (the Department), in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System (the System), the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, the Board of Education, the school board and division superintendent of Tazewell County Public Schools, and representatives of the governing boards of comprehensive community colleges located in Tazewell County and contiguous counties, shall study the feasibility of and make recommendations on developing a plan for establishing a regional career and technical education program for all students in grade levels six through 12 who reside in Planning District 2. In conducting its study and making its recommendations, the Department shall (i) evaluate existing career and technical education and other work-based learning offerings available to students enrolled in school divisions located in Planning District 2 and identify underserved areas; (ii) evaluate the relative demand for such regional career and technical education program among students enrolled in school divisions located in Planning District 2; (iii) study the feasibility of and develop a plan for increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost of implementing such a regional career and technical education program through maximizing resources available between Tazewell County Public Schools, other school divisions located in Planning District 2, and comprehensive community colleges located in or contiguous to Planning District 2, including considering (a) sharing any technology or equipment that may be necessary, (b) ways to coordinate and share existing methods of transportation to maximize accessibility to such program for students enrolled in school divisions located in Planning District 2, and (c) the availability, if any, of existing facilities or school infrastructure that may be utilized in establishing such program; and (iv) developing a plan for satisfying staffing needs and ensuring that any programs offered through such regional career and technical education program are taught by highly qualified faculty, including studying strategies for recruiting qualified high school faculty and improving the flexibility of teaching such programs for comprehensive community college faculty members. The Department shall submit to the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations and the House Committees on Education and Appropriations a report on its findings and recommendations by November 1, 2024.