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2009 SESSION

098114404
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 660
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 9, 2009
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study ways to increase career and technical education in secondary schools in the Commonwealth. Report.
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Patron-- Albo
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, career and technical education are required to be offered in the public schools, and thousands of students are enrolled in these classes each year; and

WHEREAS, such students demonstrate remarkable gifts and talents in these disciplines, and more than 550,000 students in grades 6-12 are served annually through Virginia's career and technical education programs; and

WHEREAS, although many high school graduates enter college upon graduation, many others seek employment in their respective areas of interests, and these graduates desire and require verification other than a seal of achievement to demonstrate successful completion and acquisition of requisite skills for certain occupations; and

WHEREAS, these students often want to continue their education and perfect their skills in educational programs and settings other than classes offered by employers or classes that require admission to a two-year or four-year institution of higher education; and

WHEREAS, the mission of public education concerns empowering all students to be successful citizens and workers and leaders in a global economy, and today's economy and global challenges require that career and technical education students are fully equipped to compete as productive citizens; and

WHEREAS, the creation of a career and technical education diploma would act as a portal to an array of educational and employment opportunities; and

WHEREAS, increasing career and technical education opportunities in secondary school would enable more students to be competitive in the work place, and pursue profitable careers or higher education after high school; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study ways to increase career and technical education in secondary schools in the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of six members that shall consist of six legislative members as follows:  four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates, and two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) determine the need for and feasibility and appropriateness of increasing career and technical education in the public high schools in Virginia; (ii) determine the need and desirability for a career and technical education diploma and a certificate of trade; (iii) evaluate the need for developing Standards of Learning for career and technical education, including the advantages and disadvantages, and the implications of the requirements of No Child Left Behind for the program's expanded curriculum; (iv) assess the need for insurance for on-site apprenticeships; (v) estimate the costs of expanding the career and technical education program statewide; and (vi) consider such other related issues as the joint subcommittee may deem necessary.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Departments of Education and Labor and Industry. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2009 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $6,000 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2009, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2010 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and the report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2009 interim.