Reimbursement To P-tech Schools For College Costs

Beginning in the 2020-21 budget year, the bill allows a school district, a board of cooperative services, a charter school, or the state charter school institute (local education provider) that operates a pathways in technology early college high school (p-tech school) to apply to the department of education (department) for reimbursement for the amount of tuition and fees and the costs of books and materials incurred in enrolling p-tech school students in postsecondary courses. The amount of the reimbursement is based on the average of the in-state tuition for local district colleges or community colleges, depending on the type of institution that provides the course, and is payable only for each successfully completed course credit hour. The state board of education must promulgate rules to implement the reimbursements. For the 2020-21 budget year and each budget year thereafter, the general assembly is directed to appropriate at least $2 million for the amount of the reimbursements. As part of the annual budget preparation process, the department will report the actual amount reimbursed and the amount expected to be reimbursed in the current and future budget years.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)