38.40 Technical preparation, school-to-work, and work-based learning programs.

(1) Employment and education program administration. The board shall plan, coordinate, administer, and implement the technical preparation, school-to-work, and work-based learning programs under sub. (1m) and such other employment and education programs as the governor may by executive order assign to the board. Notwithstanding any limitations placed on the use of state employment and education funds under this section or under an executive order assigning an employment and education program to the board, the board may issue a general or special order waiving any of those limitations on finding that the waiver will promote the coordination of employment and education services.

(1m) Technical preparation, school-to-work and work-based learning programs. The board shall provide all of the following programs:

(a) A technical preparation program that includes the technical preparation programs under s. 118.34.

(b) A school-to-work program that includes the school-to-work program for children at risk under sub. (4m).

(c) A work-based learning program under which the board awards grants to tribal colleges that are recognized as land grant colleges under 7 USC 301 to fund programs that provide occupational training and work-based learning experiences to youths and adults.

(2) Interagency assistance. The council on workforce investment established under 29 USC 2821 and the department of public instruction shall assist the board in providing the technical preparation, school-to-work, and work-based learning programs under sub. (1m).

(2m) Skill standards. The board shall approve statewide skill standards for the school-to-work program under sub. (1m) (b).

(4m) School-to-work for children-at-risk.

(a) The board may approve an innovative school-to-work program provided by a nonprofit organization for children at risk, as defined in s. 118.153 (1) (a), in a county having a population of 750,000 or more to assist those children at risk in acquiring employability skills and occupational-specific competencies before leaving high school. If the board approves a program under this paragraph, the board may award a grant, from the appropriation under s. 20.292 (1) (f), to the nonprofit organization providing the program and the nonprofit organization shall use the funds received under the grant to provide the program.

(b) The board shall establish requirements for the operation of the grant program under this subsection. Notwithstanding sub. (5), those requirements are not required to be promulgated as rules.

(4r) Publications and seminars. The board may provide publications and seminars relating to the employment and education programs administered by the board and may establish a schedule of fees for those publications and seminars. Fees established under this subsection for publications and seminars provided by the board may not exceed the actual cost incurred in providing those publications and seminars. The fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.292 (1) (ga).

(5) Rules. The board shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

History: 2003 a. 33 ss. 946d to 946m, 1868p, 1868r, 1876t; 2005 a. 25 ss. 714d to 719d, 1835m; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.