HB 778 has not yet been heard in committee. More details will emerge when and if the hearing process moves forward. What we currently know about the reasoning behind HB 778 is available in the House Budget & Research Office's Memo HERE.  The documents says "outdated coursework within some CTAE programs in high schools lacks alignment with the expectations of postsecondary institutions or the needs of industries. Moving the CTAE administration program to TCSG will enable one entity to have the streamlined responsibility of training students with employable skills and aligning those skills seamlessly from secondary to postsecondary education," A brief question and answer section provides:

• What benefits will be gained from moving the administration of the CTAE program to TCSG?

The mission of TCSG is to build a well-educated, globally competitive workforce. As such, TCSG is attuned with industry needs throughout the state and is uniquely qualified to offer quality CTAE programs at all levels of education. A streamlined CTAE program throughout a student's educational career ensures that high school students are taught using the latest technology and equipment, reduces the need for remediation at the postsecondary level, and promotes a ready workforce faster.

• How will this transfer affect CTAE teachers?

CTAE teachers will remain in their current positions. This is a programmatic change moving the administration of the CTAE program from the Georgia Department of Education to TCSG.

• How will this transfer affect CTAE students?

CTAE students will be able to continue their CTAE courses within their high school without the burden of leaving their peers, classes, and campuses to attend a dual enrollment course off campus. Students will be able to remain with peers their age and participate in extracurricular activities, which they may have previously foregone in order to earn college credits through dual enrollment.

• What advantages will the local high school gain from the administration of CTAE moving to TCSG?

Many small rural school systems lack the enrollment and resources to offer many CTAE programs which the local technical colleges have the ability through financial and faculty resources to provide.

• The Technical System of Georgia will provide long-term stability for the program with the added emphasis on relevant training through its sole focus on workforce development.

TCSG Will Develop Content Standards

The legislation directs TCSG, in consultation with SBOE and the Board of Regents, to establish CTAE content standards, which will be adopted by the SBOE. Each local unit of administration may expand and enrich the content standards to the extent deemed necessary and appropriate for students and communities. Each local school system shall adopt its own curriculum which shall include appropriate instruction in the content standards. TCSG, in consultation with the SBOE, shall adopt criteria which courses must meet in order to qualify for the CTAE laboratory program.

TCSG Will Align Standards with Higher Ed

TCSG will align CTAE content standards with career pathways and will develop advanced level courses for career pathways that meet postsecondary requirements for acceptance of credit at the postsecondary level. In establishing such content standards, TCSG, working with the Board of Regents, shall work to ensure that the coursework meets postsecondary requirements for acceptance of credit for such coursework at the postsecondary level in institutions under both TCSG and the Board of Regents.

TCSG Will Identify Student Assessments

TCSG will identify assessments for immediate use for students to demonstrate subject area competency for industry-specific certificates and credentials for CTAE courses. Assessments may include commercial assessments or participation and satisfactory completion in contests, career development events, or individual CTAE projects.

SBOE Will Transfer Funds to TCSG

All funds will be transferred by the SBOE to TCSG pursuant to a memorandum of understanding (MOU). TCSG shall transfer funds to local boards of education and to state charter schools pursuant to a MOU with each local board of education and state charter school. Each local board of education and state charter school shall be required to meet all standards established by TCSG in order to receive such funds. On and after July 1, 2019, TCSG is designated as the sole state agency to receive federal funds allotted to Georgia under acts of Congress appropriating federal CTAE funds; provided, however, that those funds appropriated for the operation and management of secondary education programs shall be placed under the control of the SBOE. A proportionate share of those federal funds appropriated for planning, evaluation, program improvement, and other administrative and discretionary purposes will be placed under the control of the SBOE.

GADOE CTAE Program Administration & Staff Will Be Transferred to TCSG

On or after July 1, 2019, GADOE CTAE program administration and staff will be transferred from the GADOE to TCSG. The intent of the transfer shall be to "establish a single entity to have the sole purpose of training students with employable skills and aligning those skills seamlessly from secondary to postsecondary education." The programs within the CTAE that are transferred include, but are not limited to, extended day grant program, extended year technology/career education, young farmer programs, youth camps, youth apprenticeships, industry certification, and the area teacher program.

Local Districts Will Apply to TCSG for Grant Funding

Local school systems shall apply to TCSG for CTAE grant funding. "It is the intent that federal funds received for [CTAE] shall continue to be disbursed at similar funding levels and proportions prior to July 1, 2019."

Class Size Requirements

For CTAE labs, the SBOE, after consultation with TCSG, shall provide for a system average maximum class size that shall not exceed the funding class size by more than 20 percent, unless specifically authorized by the SBOE. (PAGE believes, but has not yet been able to confirm, that strategic waiver districts and charter school systems will be able to waive the class size mandate, which only applies to the two Georgia school districts which have not entered into a flexibility contract.)

Extended Day Funding