(1) Activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and activities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs shall be funded as provided by this section.

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(2) The Department of Education shall distribute moneys in the Connecting Education to Careers Account established by ORS § 327.376 as follows:

(a) Forty percent for activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education that are described in subsection (3) of this section. Moneys shall be distributed by the department under this paragraph based on recommendations of the STEM Investment Council.

(b) Sixty percent for activities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs and that are described in subsection (4) of this section. Moneys shall be distributed by the department under this paragraph based on recommendations of the committee established under ORS § 344.075.

(3) Moneys distributed as provided by subsection (2)(a) of this section to fund activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education shall be used to:

(a) Expand and sustain regional networks that support science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

(b) Award grants that expand the implementation of effective programs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, that propose innovative approaches or programs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics or that provide professional development related to teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

(c) Provide funding to recruit, retain and support underserved students, as defined by the State Board of Education by rule, for programs that are offered at community colleges and public universities and that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

(d) Develop a systematic survey of facility use to determine how savings for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education can be achieved.

(e) Fund any other activities related to science, engineering and mathematics education that are identified by the STEM Investment Council.

(4) Moneys distributed as provided by subsection (2)(b) of this section to fund activities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs shall be used for:

(a) Programs that expose students to career and technical education programs that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs.

(b) Career and Technical Education Revitalization grants awarded under ORS § 344.075.

(c) Student leadership organizations related to career and technical education programs that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs.

(d) Distribution to school districts to support career and technical education programs in the school district that are approved by the Department of Education as being high quality and that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs. Moneys must be distributed to each school and public charter school in the school district based on the number of students enrolled at the school with the following characteristics:

(A) Students who are enrolled in and earned three or more credits for courses that are part of a career and technical education program that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs and that are approved by the Department of Education.

(B) Students who acquire an industry credential that can lead to a high wage and high demand job and that is approved by the Department of Education.

(C) Students described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph who are historically underserved, as defined by the State Board of Education by rule.

(e) Administration of grants for the purpose of expanding teacher training programs and opportunities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs.

(f) Administration of a pilot program to increase students’ exposure and access to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs.

(g) Funding any other activities related to career and technical education that can lead to high wage and high demand jobs and that are identified by the committee established under ORS § 344.075.

(5) Except as otherwise provided, moneys distributed under subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall be distributed to school districts, education service districts, public schools, public charter schools, community colleges, public universities or statewide nonprofit organizations promoting student leadership in career and technical education or any combination thereof or in partnership with youth job development organizations, as defined in ORS § 344.415, other nonprofit organizations or other entities identified by the State Board of Education by rule.

(6) From the moneys available under subsection (2) of this section, the Department of Education, the STEM Investment Council and the committee established under ORS § 344.075 combined may retain no more than a total of five percent of all moneys distributed for a fiscal year for administrative expenses incurred under this section.

(7) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the STEM Investment Council and the committee established under ORS § 344.075, shall submit a biennial report to the Legislative Assembly related to distributions made under this section. The report must include metrics that identify how distributions made under this section are contributing to the development of a skilled workforce that is able to secure high wage and high demand jobs. [2015 c.763 § 1; 2015 c.763 § 2; 2017 c.184 1,2]

327.372 and 327.376 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 327 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.