As used in this act:

(a) “Associate of applied science degree program” means a program that is offered and maintained by a technical college, composed of career technical and general education courses of instruction for which individuals may earn college credit, designed to prepare individuals for gainful employment in technical or technological occupations requiring other than a baccalaureate or advanced degree or to qualify individuals for transfer to another college or university and, after satisfactory completion of the requirements for graduation, results in the conferral of an associate of applied science degree. For the purpose of awarding college credit for completion of coursework leading to the conferral of an associate of applied science degree, the state board of regents shall determine the number of clock hours of instruction in general education courses or career technical education courses which shall be equivalent to a credit hour.

(b) “Board” means the board of education of any school district, the board of trustees of any community college, the board of regents of any municipal university, the governing body of any technical college, or the chief executive officer of any state educational institution.

(c) “Career technical education” means organized educational programs offering a sequence of courses which are directly related to the preparation of individuals in paid or unpaid employment in current or emerging occupations requiring other than a baccalaureate or advanced degree. Such programs shall include competency-based applied learning which contributes to an individual’s academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning, and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, and the occupational-specific skills necessary for economic independence as a productive and contributing member of society. The term “career technical education” also includes technology education and career and technical education as referenced in the Carl D. Perkins career and technical education act of 2006.

(d) “Community college” means any community college organized and operating under the laws of this state.

(e) “Institute of technology” or “Washburn institute of technology” means the institute of technology at Washburn university.

(f) “Municipal university” means a municipal university established under the provisions of article 13a of chapter 13 of Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

(g) “School district” means any school district organized under the laws of this state.

(h) “School year” means the 12-month period ending on June 30.

(i) “State board” means the state board of regents.

(j) “State educational institution” means the university of Kansas, Kansas state university of agriculture and applied science, Wichita state university, Emporia state university, Pittsburg state university and Fort Hays state university.

(k) “State plan” means a document or set of documents, together with attachments and supplements thereto, containing such provisions as are authorized by this act and required by the Carl D. Perkins career and technical education act of 2006, and acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto.

(l) “Technical college” means an educational institution that formerly was an area vocational school or an area vocational-technical school and that has been converted to, established as, and officially designated a technical college under authority of this act.

(m) “Technology education” means an applied discipline designed to promote technological literacy which provides knowledge and understanding of the impacts of technology including its organizations, techniques, tools and skills to solve practical problems and extend human capabilities in technological areas.