Section 1. Definitions

(a) “Program” refers to the Opportunity High School Diploma Program.

(b) “Institution of higher education” means a college, university, or similar institution, including a technical or business school, offering postsecondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate or higher degree.

Section 2. Purpose

(a) The purpose of the program is to provide an alternative means by which adult students enrolled in a workforce education program at a public community college may earn a high school diploma at the college through concurrent enrollment in a competency-based education program that enables students to demonstrate knowledge substantially equivalent to the knowledge required to earn a high school diploma in this state.

Section 3. Administration

(a) A public community college may submit to the [insert state higher education authority] an application to participate in the program. The application must propose an alternative competency-based high school diploma program to be offered for concurrent enrollment to adult students without a high school diploma who are enrolled in a workforce education program at the college. The proposed program may include any combination of instruction, curriculum, achievement, internships, or other means by which a student may attain knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student for postsecondary education or additional workforce education.

(b) A public community college may submit an application under subsection (a) together with one or more public or private institutions of higher education, public school districts, or nonprofit organizations with whom the proposed program will be offered.

(c) The [insert state higher education authority] shall review and approve a public community college’s application to participate in the program if it is determined that the college’s proposed program will provide instruction and assessments appropriate to ensure that a student who successfully completes the proposed program demonstrated levels of knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student for postsecondary education or additional workforce education.

(d) A public community college approved to participate in the program may:

(1) Enter into an agreement with one or more public or private institutions of higher education, public school districts, or nonprofit organizations to offer the program; and

(2) Offer the program at any campus of the college or an entity with which the college has entered into an agreement under subdivision 3(d)(1).

(e) A public community college participating in the program may award a high school diploma to a student enrolled in the alternative competency-based high school diploma program offered by the college under the program if the student performs satisfactorily on assessment instruments prescribed by [insert state higher education authority] rule.

(f) A high school diploma awarded under the program is equivalent to a high school diploma awarded under [insert cross-sectional reference].

(g) The [insert state higher education authority] and the [insert state workforce development authority] shall coordinate to jointly identify funding mechanisms, including grants, financial aid, or subsidies available to public community colleges and students to encourage and facilitate participation in the program.

(h) Not later than [insert date], the [insert state higher education authority] shall submit to the legislature a progress report on the effectiveness of the program and any recommendations for legislative or other action.

(i) The [insert state higher education authority] shall administer the program in consultation with the [insert state K-12 education authority] and the [insert state workforce development authority].

(j) The [insert state higher education authority] may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this section.