CT SB00856

The State Board of Education must include manufacturers' workforce needs when preparing its five-year comprehensive education plans, effective July 1, 2019.

Advisory committees established for education planning must include at least one representative from a manufacturer with fewer than 250 employees, along with representatives from business, labor, education, and parent/student organizations.

The Commissioner of Education and Board of Regents for Higher Education must establish a committee with at least 33 percent manufacturer representation to coordinate manufacturing career education for elementary, middle, and high school students.

The committee must compile and annually update a catalog of manufacturing training programs at public and independent higher education institutions, including degrees, completion requirements, enrollment process, and cost of attendance; the catalog must be made available online and distributed to school boards.

The Department of Education must develop and administer a program to introduce students to manufacturing careers through hands-on learning, videos, posters, and partnerships with manufacturers, including school and factory visits, with measurable objectives for evaluating program effectiveness.