ORS 344.125: Collaboration by state agencies on issues related to career and technical education; joint report.

(1) Representatives from the Department of Education, the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development and the Bureau of Labor and Industries shall meet at least four times each year for the purpose of promoting collaboration among the agencies on issues related to career and technical education. (2) Issues to be addressed by the agencies shall include the development and implementation of long-term goals that: (a) Ensure that career and technical education programs are available at the public schools of this state and through youth job development organizations as defined in ORS 344.415, are founded on partnerships with business and industry and receive appropriate investments of time, money and other resources. (b) Develop regional centers that establish any appropriate partnerships between public schools, community colleges, public universities, businesses, unions and other entities and that ensure that every student of this state has access to a regional center in person or online. (c) Encourage the establishment of joint high school and community college advisory committees that may include representatives of public schools, community colleges, public universities, businesses and unions to: (A) Make more effective use of resources; (B) Promote articulation and pathways between high school programs and post-secondary school programs; (C) Ensure that current industry workforce needs are considered and that curriculum is kept current with state standards; and (D) Increase opportunities for internships, apprenticeships and other opportunities that may lead to employment in the region. (d) Address academic requirements and regulatory barriers that inhibit successful movement of students in career and technical education from high schools to post-secondary school programs and the workforce. (e) Implement accelerated college credit programs that allow students to move seamlessly from public schools to post-secondary education or training to the workforce. (f) Increase professional development opportunities for teachers and learning opportunities for students through industry mentorships, internships, summer programs, after-school programs and career-based student leadership opportunities. (g) Establish partnerships between public and private entities for the purpose of educating students, parents, teachers, school advisors, policymakers and the general public about the benefits and opportunities related to career and technical education. (3) The agencies identified in subsection (1) of this section shall make a joint report by December 31 of each year to the appropriate legislative committees concerning progress on the development and implementation of the goals described in subsection (2) of this section and may submit recommendations for legislation that will promote opportunities related to career and technical education. [2011 c.682 §6; 2013 c.131 §7; 2013 c.745 §1; 2015 c.366 §84]