§ 21-12-105 — Career and technical education demonstration project grants; application; criteria; limitations

(a) A school district may apply to the state department of
education for state assistance to fund expenses associated with
the planning, development and implementation of a career and
technical education demonstration project as a new or an
expansion to any existing high school career and technical
education program in the district. As used in this section,
"career and technical education program" shall be as specified
in W.S. 21-13-309(m)(v)(D)(II). Amounts awarded under this
section shall be used to fund curricular development and project
design costs, employ certified teachers to provide course
instruction during the two (2) years of project implementation
and to fund initial purchases of equipment and supplies, all
incurred for demonstration projects which:
(i) Prepare high school students for a full range of
post secondary options, including two (2) year and four (4) year
college, apprenticeship, military and formal employment
training;
(ii) Connect academic and technical curriculum
grounded in academic and industry standards;
(iii) Provide innovative strategies for ensuring
student access to career choices, as well as opportunities for
work-based learning and dual enrollment in related post
secondary education courses;
(iv) Support workforce, education and economic needs
of Wyoming.
(b) Any amount awarded to a district under this section
shall be in addition to and not be considered in determining the
school foundation program amount under the education resource
block grant model pursuant to W.S. 21-13-309 and the amount for
career and technical education supplies, materials and equipment
pursuant to W.S. 21-13-338. A grant awarded under this section
shall be for a period of two (2) years and shall not exceed one
hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) for the first year
of demonstration project planning, and not more than two hundred
thousand dollars ($200,000.00) for project implementation in
year two (2) of the project grant. Thereafter, state assistance
for the project shall be limited to funds distributed to the
district within its foundation program amount as determined
under the education resource block grant model and the amount
distributed under W.S. 21-13-338. Any school district receiving
funds under W.S. 21-13-337 for career and technical supplies,
materials and equipment shall be ineligible to receive a grant
under this section for the period the district receives funds
under W.S. 21-13-337.
(c) Application for a grant under this section shall be on
a form and in a manner specified by rule and regulation of the
department, shall be filed with the department on or before June
30 to secure a grant during the immediately succeeding school
year, and shall at minimum include:
(i) A proposal based upon an existing partnership
between the applicant district, the Wyoming post secondary
education institution and industry, which clearly documents the
need for establishing the proposed career-technical education
demonstration project;
(ii) Documentation of integration of industry
standards, school redesign and curriculum alignment between high
school and post secondary education within the proposed project;
(iii) The purposes, plan and timeline for expenditure
of grant amounts;
(iv) Assurance that school facilities appropriately
accommodate the proposed demonstration project; and
(v) Other necessary information required by the state
department.
(d) Not later than August 15 of the applicable school year
and following review of applications submitted under this
section, the department shall notify applicant districts of its
decision and shall provide each applicant district a written
statement of reasons for approving or denying the application.
If the application is approved, the department shall award the
grant from amounts made available by legislative appropriation
within the public school foundation program account for purposes
of this section.
(e) Each recipient district shall report to the department
on the expenditure of amounts awarded under this section, shall
in consultation with representatives of partnership post
secondary education programs and industry, provide the
department an evaluation of project results and shall provide
other information as required by rule and regulation of the
department to implement this section.
(f) Repealed By Laws 2006, Ch. 37, § 2.
(g) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations
necessary to carry out this section and shall work with Wyoming
post secondary education institutions and industry in
establishing prerequisite school district and post secondary
education and industry agreement requirements.