§ 3-53 — Private-public partnership boards

(a) In this Section: "Advanced manufacturing technology" means a program of study that leads students to an industry certification, diploma, degree, or combination of these in skills and competencies needed by manufacturers. "Industry certification" means an industry-recognized credential that is (i) industry created, (ii) nationally portable, (iii) third-party-validated by either the International Organization for Standardization or the American National Standards Institute and is data-based and supported. "Institution" means a public high school or community college, including a community college in a community college district to which Article 7 of this Act applies, that offers instruction in advanced manufacturing technology for credit towards a degree. "Private-public partnership board" means a formal group of volunteers within a community college district that may be comprised of some, but not necessarily all, of the following: local and regional manufacturers, applicable labor unions, community college officials, school district superintendents, high school principals, workforce investment boards, or other individuals willing to participate. (b) The creation of a private-public partnership board is encouraged and may be authorized at each community college. A board, if created, shall meet no less than 5 of the following criteria: (1) be minimally comprised of those entities described in subsection (a) of this Section; (2) be led cooperatively by a manufacturer, a school district superintendent, and a community college president or their designees; (3) meet no less than twice each State fiscal year; (4) encourage and define the implementation of programs of study in advanced manufacturing technology to meet the competency and skill demands of manufacturers; (5) define a minimum of 4 programs of study in advanced manufacturing technology to meet the needs of the broadest number of manufacturers in the area; (6) encourage formal alignment and dual-credit opportunities for high school students who begin advanced manufacturing technology training to transition to community college programs of study in advanced manufacturing technology; and (7) establish, as its foundation, the certified production technician credential offered by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council or its successor entity.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 100-884, eff. 1-1-19 .)