Vocational-center bill moves forward

The House Education Committee on Tuesday supported a change to the formula for funding Arkansas’ secondary vocational centers.

Senate Bill 135 by Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, would move the funding formula for the vocational training centers from a base per-student model to a tiered funding structure based on the cost of the program and industry demand.

Hammer said the bill would make the state’s spending approach on the program more conservative and costbased. Currently, the secondary vocational centers receive the same amount of funding per student regardless of what courses they offer.

This makes it more difficult for the centers to offer high-cost courses like diesel mechanics and welding, despite those being two of the highest areas of industry demand.

The centers typically serve a consortium of school districts, and some are located on college campuses. Many high schools also offer vocational classes on campus, but those courses wouldn’t be affected by SB135.

The funding for secondary vocational area centers ($20.1 million a year) has remained stagnant since 2003. Hammer said the legislation would make it easier for the Department of Career Education to ask for a funding increase next year because it ensures that the current money is being spent responsibility.

The bill has already passed in the Senate, and it now goes before the full House.