Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 37 - EDUCATION (§§ 37-NEW-001 — 37-NEW01-004) › Chapter 73 - COMPREHENSIVE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION REFORM ACT (§§ 37-73-1 — 37-73-9) › Section 37-73-9 - Inventory and return on investment analysis of workforce programs and career technical education programs; development and objectives of cross-sector partnerships among K-12 education, employers and industry, and postsecondary education

(1)
The Office of Workforce Development shall work in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Community College Board to complete a program inventory and return on investment analysis of workforce programs and career technical education programs in both the K-12 and community college system, with the expectation that results will be used in conjunction with labor market analysis information and other relevant data to adjust program offerings to best meet the future needs of Mississippi business and industry and to provide high-demand, high-skill and high-wage pathways.
(2)
The Office of Workforce Development, in collaboration with the Mississippi Community College Board, the Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit, shall develop cross-sector partnerships among K-12 education, employers and industry, and postsecondary education to meet at least quarterly or more often as the industry needs require to complete the following objectives:
(a)
The state's K-12 and community college career technical education programs emphasize high-demand, high-skill and high-wage pathways, as determined by state and regional labor market data, and aligned with the current and projected state economic priorities.
(b)
Employers and industry are consulted and help lead the development of K-12 and community college career technical education program standards, curricula, instructional strategies and industry-valued credentials.
(c)
K-12 and community college career technical education programs feature experiential learning opportunities such as internships, externships, apprenticeships or other work-based learning opportunities.
(d)
K-12 career technical education programs are linked to postsecondary courses and credential programs and provide a seamless transition to a postsecondary credential.
(e)
The state shall annually publish and promote a list of K-12 and community college industry-recognized certifications relevant to specific career technical education pathways and linked to high-demand, high-skill and high-wage pathways.
(f)
K-12 and community college career technical education programs shall be annually reviewed to ensure that offerings do not lead to dead-end pathways and to develop new offerings to meet industry needs and strengthen existing offerings.
(g)
K-12 and community college career technical education programs shall be reviewed annually to ensure student participation and success rates, including career technical education concentrators and students earning industry-recognized credentials. This review shall also include an examination of student participation and success by demographics to ensure equitable access and completion by all students.
(h)
Best practices in cross-sector partnerships are developed and shared across the state.
Added by Laws, 2022, ch. 370, HB 1388,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2022.