2023 Tennessee Code › Title 49 - EDUCATION (§§ 49-1-NEW — 49-50-1703) › Chapter 6 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (§§ 49-6-101 — 49-6-8106) › Part 4 - JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS GENERALLY (§§ 49-6-401 — 49-6-451) › Section 49-6-420 - Industry 4.0 diploma distinction

(a)
The state board of education shall develop an Industry 4.0 diploma distinction for high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in a high-need, high-skill industry after graduation.
(b)
A high school student interested in receiving an Industry 4.0 diploma distinction must:
(1)
Before the end of the student's sophomore year:
(A)
Notify the student's counselor or school principal of the student's intent to pursue an Industry 4.0 diploma distinction;
(B)
Provide the student's counselor or school principal with documentation signed by the student's parent or legal guardian indicating that the student's parent or legal guardian is aware of the requirements for the parent's or legal guardian's student to obtain an Industry 4.0 diploma distinction and consenting to the student's participation;
(C)
Register with a regional American Job Center or other career counseling or community partner approved by the student's school; and
(D)
Enroll in work-based learning or dual enrollment courses for the student's junior year;
(2)
Beginning in the student's junior year, meet, no less than once per month, with a career coach who meets the requirements of subsection (c) and who has been approved to provide career coaching services by the student's school;
(3)
Before the end of the student's junior year, enroll in work-based learning or dual enrollment courses for the student's senior year; and
(4)
Successfully complete all coursework required for graduation.
(c)
A career coach must:
(1)
Be an American Job Center career coach, a career coach from a career counseling or community partner approved by the United States department of labor's regional office for the state of Tennessee, or a certified school counselor or an educator who holds a work-based learning credential; and
(2)
Meet, no less than once per month, with students assigned to the career coach by the student's school principal to assist students in:
(A)
Developing the personal attributes required for success in the workforce, which include, but are not limited to, time management, networking, communication, teamwork, creative thinking, and conflict resolution;
(B)
Applying for dual enrollment grants or other available financial aid opportunities, including, but not limited to, grants and scholarships administered by the Tennessee student assistance corporation;
(C)
Identifying the best combination of dual enrollment, work-based learning, and internship opportunities available to the student; and
(D)
Preparing for standardized assessments such as the ACT
®
.
(d)
Each public high school, including public charter high schools, shall notify freshman and sophomore students enrolled in the public high school or public charter high school of the opportunity to pursue an Industry 4.0 diploma distinction pursuant to this section. The notice required under this subsection (d) must be provided to students biannually no later than ten (10) days after the first day of each semester of the school year.
(e)
The state board of education shall establish graduation requirements for students pursuing an Industry 4.0 diploma distinction. The graduation requirements must:
(1)
Allow a student to earn at least one (1) science credit and at least one (1) math credit through course substitutions approved by the state board, including, but not limited to, dual enrollment and work-based learning courses that are aligned to a student's chosen career path; and
(2)
Require a student to earn nine (9) credits of dual enrollment or work-based learning, which may be satisfied by the student's successful completion of dual enrollment coursework, work-based learning experiences, on-the-job training, or other mentorships or structured educational experiences that allow the student to apply the student's knowledge and skills in a work environment to develop an understanding of workplace expectations.
Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 946, s 1, eff. 4/29/2022.