Lawmakers are rolling out a bill that aims to create a vocational apprenticeship pilot program in Minnesota high schools. In introducing the bill, Representative Jim Nash of Waconia says “we put a lot focus on creating an opportunity for students to go to a four year college and to pursue a great career that way, but I think we de-emphasized the importance of kids who already know that they don’t necessarily want to go to college, that they want to work in a trade.” Nash the bill creates vocational post-secondary enrollment options (VPSEO) for students statewide as an alternative to college courses. Nash explains further what the bill would do:
The bill would split funding with a third going to urban schools, a third to suburban schools, and a third to schools throughout Greater Minnesota. In 2020, following the pilot program, the commissioner of revenue will report back to the legislature on the effectiveness of the program. The bill is scheduled for a hearing today in the Education Innovation Policy Committee (8:15 a.m).