Kansas Pays Schools to Boost Skilled Labor
The state is going to pay school districts $1,000 for every student that graduates with credentials in high-need jobs.
Looking to boost the number of qualified applicants for in-demand skilled labor jobs like plumbers, mechanics and construction workers, the state of Kansas is offering to pay school districts $1,000 for each student who graduates with an industry-recognized credential in high-need jobs, according to a press release. The state will also pick up the entire tab for high school juniors and seniors who take qualified technical courses at their local technical or community college. While it's relatively common for states to pay for high schoolers' technical education, research manager Catherine Imperatore at the Association for Career and Technical Education told Governing that this is one of the first times she's seen a state offer financial incentives to schools for getting students involved in technical education. The Career and Technical Education Act, which was signed in May, created the program and will take effect in the 2012-2013 school year. The complete list of qualified training programs will eventually be posted on the state's Department of Education website.
