(a) The Commissioner of Education, in collaboration with the Board of Regents for Higher Education, shall establish a committee to coordinate the education of middle school and high school students about careers in manufacturing. Such committee shall include, but not be limited to, (1) representatives from the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Labor Department, the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, the Technical Education and Career System, the advanced manufacturing centers at the regional community-technical colleges, independent institutions of higher education in the state that offer training in the field of manufacturing, the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission, manufacturing companies and employee organizations that represent manufacturing workers, and (2) middle and high school teachers and guidance counselors.

(b) On or before January 1, 2017, and on or before August first annually thereafter, the committee established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall compile a catalog of programs at public and independent institutions of higher education in the state that offer training in the field of manufacturing. Such catalog shall include for each program: (1) The degree, certification, license or credential awarded upon completion; (2) the period of time and requirements for completion; (3) the enrollment process; and (4) the cost of attendance. The commissioner shall make such catalog available on the Internet web site of the Department of Education and distribute such catalog to each local and regional board of education.

(c) On or before February 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the committee established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce and higher education and workforce development an analysis of whether current programs available to Connecticut students are meeting workforce needs. The committee shall consult with members of the manufacturing industry when producing such report.

(d) The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the committee established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall develop and administer a program to introduce middle school and high school students, their parents or guardians and guidance counselors to careers in manufacturing. Such program may include, but is not limited to, hands-on learning opportunities, posters, videos, pamphlets and social media and other technology to describe and promote modern manufacturing and the programs included in the catalog described in subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner may enter into partnerships with one or more private sector entities to further the goals of such program. Such partnerships may include, but are not limited to, student visits to manufacturers and manufacturer visits to schools in order to give students first hand exposure to modern manufacturing and the products and materials created by manufacturers in the state.

(e) The Department of Education, in consultation with representatives from the manufacturing industry and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, shall develop a best practices guide to help local and regional boards of education to incorporate relationships with manufacturing in their middle school and high school curricula.

(P.A. 16-114, S. 1; P.A. 17-237, S. 47.)

History: P.A. 16-114 effective June 3, 2016; P.A. 17-237 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “technical high school system” with “Technical Education and Career System”, effective July 1, 2017.