Section 1. Purpose. 

The legislature finds and declares the following: 

A. It is critical to expand the opportunities available to public school students who pursue career and technical education pathways; 

B. The state of [insert state] must level the playing field for students who choose a career and technical education pathway by ensuring their accomplishments within a career and technical education pathway are deemed just as significant as those achieved by college-bound students who graduate high school with honors; 

C. Ensuring that career and technical education assessments are weighted in a similar manner as traditional education assessments is an important step in providing students with additional options available to them following high school graduation; and 

D. It is imperative that career and technical education as a whole is supported on the state level as an equal alternative to traditional educational pathways by implementing legislative solutions that address existing shortfalls faced by students who pursue career and technical education pathways. 

Section 2. Definitions. 

A. “High school” means a public school, not including a charter school, that provides instruction to students in any combination of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12. 

Section 3. Assessments to Measure College and Career Readiness. 

A. Each high school shall administer college and career readiness assessments, including a career readiness assessment that leads to a nationally recognized work readiness certificate, in a manner and frequency prescribed by the [insert state education department/agency] to each student before he or she graduates from high school. 

B. A career readiness assessment under subsection A of this section may include the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). 

C. A public school district may offer additional college and career readiness assessments for students enrolled in high school, at no cost to the student, by using [insert existing state funds provided to public school districts through the base allotment or specially designated for career readiness/workforce development]. 

D. Each public institution of higher education shall adopt and implement a policy to use a Platinum, Gold, or Silver credential earned through the ACT WorkKeys (NCRC) as transcribable credit toward the attainment of a postsecondary technical degree.  

Section 4. Promulgation of Rules and Regulations. 

The [insert state education department/agency] shall promulgate such rules and regulations that are necessary to effectuate the provisions of Section 3 of this Act.