TITLE IX
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
CHAPTER 46
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
281—46.1(256) Federal Act accepted. The provisions of the Act of Congress known as the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, codified at 20 U.S.C. §2301 et seq., as amended, and the benefit of all funds appropriated under said Act and all other Acts pertaining to career and technical education, are accepted. All references to this Act in this chapter are to the Act as amended through February 7, 2024.
[ARC 7795C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—46.2(256) Definitions. As used in this chapter, the definitions in Iowa Code section 256.125 apply. Additionally, “shared program” means a program or portion of a program offered through an agreement pursuant to Iowa Code section 256.13.
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281—46.3(256) State board for career and technical education. The state board of education constitutes the board for career and technical education. In that capacity, the board will approve the multiyear state plan developed by the director in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations governing career and technical education.
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281—46.4(256) Career and technical education service areas. Districts shall comply with rule 281—46.5(256) in offering programming pursuant to this rule. Instructors teaching courses pursuant to this rule are to hold and maintain appropriate licensure pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3.
	46.4(1) Grades 7-8. Pursuant to 281—Chapter 12, districts will offer career exploration and development in grades 7 and 8. Career exploration and development is designed so that students are appropriately prepared to create an individual career and academic plan pursuant to 281—Chapter 49, incorporate foundational career and technical education concepts aligned with the six career and technical education service areas as defined in subrule 46.4(2), and incorporate relevant twenty-first century skills.
	46.4(2) Grades 9-12. Pursuant to 281—Chapter 12, districts will offer career and technical education programming in the following service areas:
	a. 	Agriculture, food, and natural resources, including the career cluster of agriculture, food, and natural resources.
	b. 	Information solutions, including the career clusters of arts, audio and video technology, and communications; and information technology.
	c. 	Applied sciences, technology, engineering, and manufacturing, including the career clusters of architecture and construction; manufacturing; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and transportation, distribution, and logistics.
	d. 	Health sciences, including the career cluster of health science.
	e. 	Human services, including the career clusters of education and training; human services; hospitality and tourism; government and public administration; and law, public safety, corrections, and security.
	f. 	Business, finance, marketing, and management, including the career clusters of business, management, and administration; finance; and marketing.
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281—46.5(256) Standards for career and technical education. The board will adopt content standards for the career and technical education service areas. Districts will include, at a minimum, the content standards for career and technical education service areas adopted pursuant to this rule in career and technical education programs as the standards are adopted by the board.
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281—46.6(256) Career and technical education program approval and review.
	46.6(1) Secondary program approval. All career and technical education programs offered by a district are to be approved by the department. As a condition for approval, a district will comply with the following paragraphs:
	a. 	Data collection and analysis. A district, for each program, will conduct an analysis of appropriate data and information related to the program and occupational fields applicable to the program. For purposes of this subrule, data includes, at a minimum, program enrollment numbers and trends by high school, course completion rates and trends, data needed under federal statutes governing career and technical education, and labor market information and socioeconomic and demographic data elements as provided by the partnership.
	b. 	Program report and self-study. A district will create a program report and self-study for each offered program. The program report and self-study includes the following minimum criteria:
	(1)	Program overview. This section includes an overview of the program’s purpose, a summary of data and information as described under paragraph 46.6(1)“a” and any conclusions drawn from this data and information, and an analysis of future trends in occupations associated with the program.
	(2)	Statement of program goals, objectives, and outcomes. This section includes clear statements of the program’s goals, objectives, and outcomes, including a justification of the program’s goal(s), objective(s), and outcome(s) based on the review conducted under subparagraph 46.6(1)“b”(1), and describes methods that will be used to measure the program’s stated outcomes.
	(3)	Competencies. This section describes the established program competencies aligned with state standards pursuant to rule 281—46.5(256) and the program’s goals, objectives, and outcomes; includes evidence of advisory committee approval of competencies, technical skill assessment tool(s), and proficiency benchmarks; includes evidence of postsecondary approval of competencies and technical skill assessment tool(s); outlines and describe the coherent sequence of coursework that constitutes the program, including any related foundational and concurrent enrollment coursework, depicted in a plan of study template; describes processes utilized to employ contextualized and effective work-based, project-based, and problem-based learning approaches; describes efforts to integrate career and technical education student organization(s) into the program, if applicable; and describes processes utilized to review and update the curriculum, ensuring continued relevancy to the occupational field.
	(4)	Student assessment. This section describes how the program will assess student outcomes established under subparagraph 46.6(1)“b”(2) and program competencies established under subparagraph 46.6(1)“b”(3) and the established technical skill assessment tool(s) to measure competencies, utilizing industry-approved technical skill assessments, where available and appropriate.
	(5)	Educational resources. This section describes key equipment and materials currently used in instruction; processes to determine whether the equipment is relevant and up to date; processes to maintain the equipment; and new equipment needs, with a description of how the proposed new equipment would improve the program.
	(6)	Advisory council. This section describes how the program engages with the business community to recruit members for the advisory council pursuant to rule 281—46.8(258) and includes a current member list with titles and company; describes advisory committee meeting logistics including, but not limited to, meeting frequency, agendas, and minutes; details and describes the advice the advisory council has suggested for the program and any actions or results taken by the program that stem from this advice as well as any advice not acted upon by the program; and includes, as an appendix to the narrative, advisory council minutes from the prior year.
	(7)	Partnerships. This section describes how the program’s curriculum is integrated with other curricular offerings required of all students; describes the articulation, contractual agreements for shared courses with community colleges, and other agreements with community colleges and other postsecondary institutions; and describes how the program partners with counselors at various levels to assist all students and stakeholders in the exploration of pathway opportunities within the service area.
	(8)	Removing barriers. This section describes how the program removes barriers for all students to access education opportunities both while in and beyond high school.
	c. 	Feedback. The district will submit the program report and self-study completed under paragraph 46.6(1)“b” to the partnership for peer review and feedback. The partnership is to complete a review of the program report and self-study and provide the district with recommendations and feedback based on that review. The partnership’s recommendations will be documented and submitted to the department and the district. The partnership will include in the recommendations a determination of whether the program should or should not receive department approval. A program must be recommended for approval by the partnership for the program to receive approval by the department. The district will modify the program report and self-study based on the partnership’s recommendations. The partnership’s recommendations will be included as an appendix to the program report and self-study submitted to the department. The final program report and self-study will be submitted by the district to the department.
	d. 	Department approval. Final approval of programs is reserved to the department. Approval will be awarded to a program if clear evidence of compliance with the criteria established in this rule is provided in the program report and self-study under paragraph 46.6(1)“b.” A program that fails to be approved by the department will have one year to address identified deficiencies and resubmit for approval of the program. The department will provide a summary of the deficiencies in need of addressing.
	46.6(2) Postsecondary program approval. All community college career and technical education programs will be approved through the process established in 281—Chapter 21.
	46.6(3) Secondary program review. The program review process will ensure that 20 percent of secondary career and technical education programs are reviewed on an annual basis and that career and technical education programs meet standards adopted by the board. The review will include an assessment of the extent to which the competencies in the program are being mastered by the students enrolled, the costs are proportionate to educational benefits received, the career and technical education curriculum is articulated and integrated with other curricular offerings required of all students, the programs would permit students with career and technical education backgrounds to pursue other educational interests in a postsecondary institutional setting, and the programs remove barriers for all students to access educational and employment opportunities.
	a. 	Secondary program review. As a condition of continuing approval, districts will comply with the following provisions for career and technical education program review. Units of instruction necessary under rule 281—46.4(258) are to have students from each participating high school enrolled. Each district that sends students to a shared program with another district that is used by the sending district to fulfill rule 281—46.4(258) is to have students from the sending district enrolled in the shared program.
	(1)	Conclusions drawn from annual program measurement. A district will, for each program, annually review and evaluate program outcomes and student assessment data. The district will document any conclusions drawn from the review and evaluation of program outcomes and student assessment data, and how those conclusions impact the future direction of the program. In addition to and as a result of this review, the district will identify program strengths, in order of importance, and describe how these strengths will be maintained; perceived barriers to accomplishing the program’s goal(s) and objective(s); and primary opportunities for improvement, in order of importance, and how these opportunities for improvement will be addressed. The district will also review program enrollment and participation data by high school to determine if students from each participating high school have access to the program. The district will describe how the district is ensuring access to the program for all students from each participating high school.
	(2)	Revision of program goals, objectives, and outcomes. The district is to update and make appropriate revisions to the program, including goals, objectives, and outcomes, as outlined in the program report and self-study based on the results of the activities prescribed under subparagraph 46.6(3)“a”(1).
	b. 	Feedback. The district will submit the program report and self-study completed under subparagraph 46.6(3)“a”(2) to the partnership for peer review and feedback. The partnership will complete a review of the program report and self-study and provide the district with recommendations and feedback based on the review. The partnership’s recommendations are to be documented and submitted to the department and the district. The partnership will include in the recommendations a determination of whether the program should or should not receive department approval. A program is to be recommended for approval by the partnership for the program to receive approval by the department. The district will modify the program report and self-study based on the partnership’s recommendations. The partnership’s recommendations will be included as an appendix to the program report and self-study submitted to the department. The final program report and self-study will be submitted by the district to the department.
	c. 	Department approval. Final approval of programs will be reserved for the department. Approval will be awarded to a program if clear evidence of compliance with the criteria established in this rule is provided in the program report and self-study under this rule. A program that fails to be approved by the department will have one year to address identified deficiencies and resubmit for approval of the program. The department will provide a summary of the deficiencies in need of addressing.
	46.6(4) Postsecondary program review. The postsecondary program review process is to ensure career and technical education programs meet standards adopted by the board. The review will include an assessment of the extent to which the competencies in the program are being mastered by the students enrolled, the program costs are proportionate to educational benefits received, the curriculum is articulated and integrated with other curricular offerings required of all students, the program provides opportunities for students to pursue other educational interests in a postsecondary institutional setting, and the program removes barriers for all students to access educational and employment opportunities.
	a. 	Process. Each community college will establish a process that ensures at least 20 percent of career and technical education programs are reviewed on an annual basis. The department will ensure compliance with this paragraph through the community college accreditation process established in 281—Chapter 21.
	b. 	Components. The following minimum components will be addressed through the process outlined in paragraph 46.6(4)“a.”
	(1)	Industry or professional standards. Community colleges will utilize standards established and recognized by industry or professional organizations when available and appropriate. In lieu of these standards, community colleges will develop program standards through a structured group interview process, which involves committees of incumbent workers within an occupational cluster analyzing standards that include new and emerging technologies, job seeking, leadership, entrepreneurial, and occupational competencies. This analysis includes identifying standards that ensure program participants have access to instruction that leads to employment and further training. All standards will be analyzed for the reinforcement of academic skills.
	(2)	Program standards. Additional standards to be addressed during the program review include currency of curriculum; faculty qualifications; professional development; adequacy of equipment and facilities; student outcomes, in terms of student demographics to include gender, race and ethnicity, national origin, and disability; enrollment retention, completion, and replacement rates; articulation; and employment rates and wages.
	(3)	Advisory council. The community college will document how the program engages with the business community to recruit members for the advisory council under rule 281—46.8(258). Program review documentation will include a current member list with titles and employer; advisory committee meeting logistics including, but not limited to, meeting frequency, agendas, and minutes; advice the advisory council has suggested for the program; and any actions or results taken by the program that stem from this advice.
	(4)	Articulation. Teachers and administrators from both secondary and postsecondary instructional levels (when applicable) meet to identify competencies required at each level and to jointly prepare agreements of articulation between secondary and postsecondary levels for specific occupational areas. Such joint articulation efforts will facilitate the secondary-postsecondary transition and help reduce duplication between the two levels.
	46.6(5) Program modification. Any modifications to a program are to be approved by the department. Modification includes a change to the courses in the program, a change to the description of a program, discontinuing a program or option, a change to instructional or occupational classification, or changes in program entrance requirements.
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281—46.7(258) Accreditation standards not met.
	46.7(1) The following are conditions under which a district has failed to meet accreditation standards:
	a. 	A district fails to submit a program for approval under rule 281—46.6(256).
	b. 	A program fails to comply with the corrective action process outlined in paragraph 46.6(1)“d” or 46.6(3)“c.”
	46.7(2) Any findings under subrule 46.7(1) will be documented and reviewed as part of the comprehensive desk audit established under Iowa Code section 256.11(10)“a”(1).
	a. 	A program identified under paragraph 46.7(1)“a” will not be used by a district to satisfy the minimum education program for career and technical education specified under 281—paragraph 12.5(5)“i.” Such a program is ineligible to receive funds distributed under rule 281—46.9(258).
	b. 	A program identified under paragraph 46.7(1)“b” will not be used by a district to satisfy the minimum education program for career and technical education specified under 281—paragraph 12.5(5)“i.”
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281—46.8(258) Advisory council.
	46.8(1) General. The board of directors of a school district or community college that maintains a career and technical education program receiving federal or state funds under this chapter will appoint an advisory council, which is governed by Iowa Code section 256.132. An advisory council established under this rule is to meet at least twice annually.
	46.8(2) Joint advisory council. A school district and a community college that maintain a career and technical education program receiving federal or state funds may create a joint local advisory council that may serve in place of an advisory council under subrule 46.8(1).
	46.8(3) Regional advisory council. A regional advisory council established by a regional career and technical education planning partnership approved by the department pursuant to rule 281—46.10(258) may serve in place of an advisory council under subrule 46.8(1).
	46.8(4) Membership. The membership of each advisory council established under this rule is to consist of public members from multiple businesses within the occupation or occupational field related to the career and technical education program and of other stakeholders with expertise in the occupation or occupational field related to the career and technical education program. There will be a good-faith effort to include secondary and postsecondary career and technical education teachers from related secondary and postsecondary programs on the advisory council.
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281—46.9(258) Distribution of career and technical education funds.
	46.9(1) An approved regional career and technical education planning partnership is eligible to receive state funds for school districts and community colleges participating in the regional career and technical education planning partnership for purposes allowed under subrule 46.10(6).
	a. 	At the beginning of a fiscal year, the department will assign to each partnership a portion of the total designated career and technical education funds appropriated to the department. The department will disburse funds to a partnership following approval of the multiyear plan pursuant to subrule 46.10(2).
	b. 	Each partnership will be assigned a portion of the total career and technical education funds based on the following formula:
	(1)	Half of the total career and technical education funds to be disbursed equally between the approved partnerships.
	(2)	Half of the total career and technical education funds to be disbursed based on the number of students enrolled in approved career and technical education programs.
	46.9(2) All federal funds shall be spent pursuant to the state plan pursuant to the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, codified at 20 U.S.C. §2301 et seq., as amended.
	46.9(3) An approved regional career and technical education planning partnership receiving funds under this rule will comply with financial monitoring processes established by the department.
	a. 	At the end of the state fiscal year, the fiscal agent of an approved regional career and technical education planning partnership will submit to the department financial forms and other evidence documents necessary for the department to complete a comprehensive review of all transactions completed during the previous fiscal year that involve state and federal funds issued to the approved regional career and technical education planning partnership by the department. Documentation will be submitted by the regional career and technical education planning partnership in a manner prescribed by the department.
	b. 	Instances of transactions involving state and federal funds issued to an approved regional career and technical education planning partnership that are found to be noncompliant with state and federal regulations governing the use of such funds, including subrule 46.10(6), will be documented by the department.
	(1)	The fiscal agent of the approved regional career and technical education planning partnership will be notified of any instances of noncompliance, and prepare, in consultation with the regional career and technical education planning partnership and department, a corrective action plan. The plan will, at a minimum, detail the policies and procedures to be implemented by the fiscal agent to ensure that subsequent transactions involving state and federal funds issued to the regional career and technical education planning partnership are compliant with applicable state and federal regulations.
	(2)	The corrective action plan is to be approved by the regional career and technical education planning partnership and submitted to the department for approval through the annual approval process established under subrule 46.10(2). The department will review and approve or deny approval of the corrective action plan. A regional career and technical education planning partnership required to create a corrective action plan must secure approval of the corrective action plan to be awarded continuing approval. A regional planning partnership that fails to secure continuing approval is subject to paragraph 46.10(2)“c.”
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281—46.10(258) Regional career and technical education planning partnerships. Regional career and technical education planning partnerships are established to assist school districts in providing an effective, efficient, and economical means of delivering high-quality secondary career and technical education programs.
	46.10(1) Establishment. Partnerships will be established to serve all school districts in the state no later than June 30, 2017.
	a. 	There are established in the state no fewer than 12 and no more than 15 regions in which partnerships may operate.
	b. 	A partnership will be considered established if approved pursuant to subrule 46.10(2).
	c. 	Convening the regional career and technical education planning partnership is the joint responsibility of the area education agency and community college located within the region. In convening the partnership, the area education agency and community college will secure the participation of interim members of the partnership. When selecting interim members, the area education agency and community college are to ensure the membership provisions of subrule 46.10(3) are satisfied.
	46.10(2) Approval. All partnerships will be approved by the department. As a condition of approval, each partnership will meet the following provisions:
	a. 	Approval. Each partnership adopts bylaws in a manner and format prescribed by the department. The partnership submits to the department the partnership’s bylaws, a membership list that clearly denotes the membership under subrule 46.10(3) and the chair, vice-chair, and secretary, the designated fiscal agent for the partnership, minutes from recent meetings, and a schedule of future meetings.
	b. 	Continuing approval. By June 30, 2018, and for each subsequent year, each partnership is to adopt a multiyear plan satisfying subrule 46.10(5). The multiyear plan and documents under paragraph 46.10(2)“a” will be reviewed and, as necessary, revised on an annual basis by the partnership and submitted to the department. To maintain approval, the partnership will maintain evidence that the duties assigned to the partnership under subrule 46.10(4) are performed on a continuing basis. In awarding continuing approval, the department will consider documented findings from the financial monitoring process established under subrule 46.9(3).
	c. 	Failure to maintain approval. If the department denies or grants conditional approval of a partnership, the director, in consultation with the partnership, will establish a plan detailing all areas of deficiency and prescribing the procedures that must be taken to achieve approval and a timeline for completion of the prescribed procedures. A final plan will be submitted to the director within 45 days following notice of the department denying or granting conditional approval of a partnership. The partnership will continue to perform the duties assigned to the partnership under subrule 46.10(4) for the duration of the timeline established in the plan. If at the end of the timeline established in the plan the noted deficiencies have not been adequately addressed, the partnership will be denied approval. Within one year of the action to deny approval of the partnership, the director will establish a plan that details how the partnership will be merged or restructured.
	d. 	Resolution of disputes. In the event of a dispute regarding the assignment of a district to a partnership under this rule, the director will first attempt to mediate the dispute. If mediation is unsuccessful, the director will schedule a hearing to obtain testimony. At the sole discretion of the director, the hearing may be held electronically or in person. The director will issue within ten days after the hearing a written decision that is a final administrative decision.
	46.10(3) Membership. The membership of each partnership will consist of stakeholders in a position to contribute to the development and successful implementation of high-quality career and technical education programs. Each district that falls within the boundaries of the partnership will be represented on the partnership. Once established pursuant to subrule 46.10(1), the partnership is responsible for identifying and maintaining appropriate membership. Membership of the partnership will include the following:
	a. 	The superintendent of a school district within the regional planning partnership, or the superintendent’s designee.
	b. 	The president of a community college within the regional planning partnership, or the president’s designee.
	c. 	The chief administrator of an area education agency within the regional planning partnership, or the chief administrator’s designee.
	d. 	Representatives of a regional work-based learning intermediary network.
	e. 	Representatives of regional economic and workforce entities including regional advisory boards established under Iowa Code section 84A.4.
	f. 	Representatives of business and industry, including representatives of regional industry sector partnerships.
	g. 	Career and technical education teachers and faculty.
	46.10(4) Duties. The partnership will perform the following duties on a continuing basis:
	a. 	Develop a multiyear plan pursuant to subrule 46.10(5), which is to be updated annually.
	b. 	Collect and review all relevant plans pursuant to the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, codified at 20 U.S.C. §2301 et seq., as amended; career and academic plans under 281—Chapter 49; and regional labor market, socioeconomic, and demographic information for purposes of facilitating the program review process specified under paragraph 46.10(4)“f” and regional activities specified in the state plan developed under the aforementioned federal Act.
	c. 	Ensure compliance with standards adopted by the board for regional career and technical education planning partnerships.
	d. 	Appropriately expend career and technical education funds in accordance with subrule 46.10(6) assigned to the partnership pursuant to rule 281—46.9(258).
	e. 	Collect, review, and make available to districts appropriate labor market, socioeconomic, and other state, regional, or national information necessary for completing the program approval and review process pursuant to rule 281—46.6(256).
	f. 	Review career and technical education programs of school districts within the region and recommend to the department career and technical education programs for approval in accordance with subrules 46.6(1) and 46.6(3).
	g. 	Coordinate and facilitate advisory councils for career and technical education programs and, as necessary, establish regional advisory councils to serve in the same capacity as local advisory councils.
	h. 	Plan for regional centers with the purpose of achieving equitable access to high-quality career and technical education programming and concurrent enrollment opportunities for all students.
	46.10(5) Multiyear plan. The multiyear plan developed by the partnership will outline the partnership’s goals, objectives, and outcomes; how the partnership will execute the authority and duties assigned to the partnership; how the partnership will secure collaboration with secondary schools, postsecondary educational institutions, and employers to ensure students have access to high-quality career and technical education programming, including career academies, that aligns career guidance, twenty-first century career and technical education and academic curricula, and work-based learning opportunities that empower students to be successful learners and practitioners; and how the partnership will ensure compliance with standards established under this rule. In addition, the multiyear state plan will include the following components:
	a. 	Goals, objectives, and outcomes. The plan will detail the partnership’s goals, objectives, and outcomes, which will include the following goals:
	(1)	Promote career and college readiness through thoughtful career guidance and purposeful academic and technical planning practices.
	(2)	Promote high-quality, integrated career and technical education programming, including career academies and the delivery of quality career and technical education programs by school districts in fulfillment of rule 281—46.4(256) comprised of secondary exploratory and transitory coursework to prepare students for higher-level, specialized academic and technical training aligned with labor market needs.
	(3)	Afford students the opportunity to access a spectrum of high-quality work-based learning experiences through collaboration with a work-based learning intermediary network.
	(4)	Afford all students equitable access to programs and encourage the participation of underrepresented student populations in career and technical education programming.
	b. 	Process to measure goals, objectives, and outcomes. The plan will outline the processes to be used by the partnership to measure all goals, objectives, and outcomes established pursuant to paragraph 46.10(5)“a.”
	c. 	Program approval and review process. The plan will outline the process the partnership will utilize in reviewing career and technical education programs of school districts within the region based on standards established in rule 281—46.6(256). The process will detail how 20 percent of programs will be reviewed on an annual basis. The partnership will provide a written five-year program review schedule that clearly indicates the specific year in which a program is to be reviewed within the five-year cycle.
	d. 	Advisory councils. The plan will outline the process that the partnership will utilize in coordinating and facilitating local advisory councils for career and technical education programs under rule 281—46.8(258) and establishing regional advisory councils to serve in the same capacity as local advisory councils, as necessary.
	e. 	Use of funds. The plan will detail the partnership’s budget including intended use of funds designated to the partnership pursuant to rule 281—46.9(258). The intended use of funds will comply with subrule 46.10(6) and be clearly connected to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the partnership established under paragraph 46.10(5)“a” and the needs of career and technical education programs and teachers as identified through the program approval and review process under rule 281—46.6(256).
	f. 	Planning for regional centers. The plan will outline the process that the partnership will utilize in planning for regional centers, consistent with rule 281—46.12(258), with the purpose of achieving equitable access to high-quality career and technical education programming and concurrent enrollment opportunities for all students.
	g. 	Meeting regularly. The plan will outline the intended schedule of partnership meetings for a five-year period. The partnership will meet at least twice per academic year.
	h. 	Annual review of multiyear plan. The plan will outline the process to be utilized by the partnership to annually review and, as necessary, revise the plan. This process is to ensure that all members and stakeholders are included in the review and revision of the plan. The partnership will maintain a written record of all reviews of and revisions to the plan.
	i. 	Assurance statement. The plan shall include, in a format prescribed by the department, an assurance that in all operations of and matters related to the partnership, the partnership does not discriminate against individuals protected under federal and state civil rights statutes.
	46.10(6) Secondary career and technical education funds. An approved regional career and technical education partnership may use funds received from state and federal sources on behalf of school districts and community colleges participating in the regional career and technical education planning partnership for the following:
	a. 	Staffing and resources to ensure the minimum duties and responsibilities assigned to the regional planning partnership under subrules 46.10(4) and 46.10(5) are satisfactorily executed. The partnership will ensure adequate staffing and resources are committed to these purposes prior to allocating funds for any use authorized under paragraph 46.10(6)“b.”
	b. 	To offer regional career and technical education professional development opportunities; coordinate, maintain, and support a career guidance system pursuant to 281—Chapter 49 and related work-based learning opportunities for students; and purchase career and technical education equipment and curricular resources to include standard classroom consumable supplies directly related to and necessary for the course curriculum, other than basic consumable supplies that will be made into products to be sold or used personally by students, teachers, and other persons.
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281—46.11(258) Career academies.
	46.11(1) Establishment and responsibilities. A career academy may be established under an agreement between a single school district and a community college, or by multiple school districts and a community college organized into a regional career and technical education planning partnership pursuant to rule 281—46.10(258). A career academy established under this rule will be a career-oriented or occupation-oriented program of study that includes a minimum of two years of secondary education, which may fulfill the sequential unit requirement in one of the four service areas pursuant to 281—subrule 12.5(5), includes concurrent enrollment programming aligned with a postsecondary education program that meets the requirements of 281—Chapter 22, and is approved by the director. A career academy will do all of the following:
	a. 	Utilize regional career and technical education planning partnerships outlined in rule 281—46.10(258) in an advisory capacity to inform the selection and design of the career academy and establishment of industry standards.
	b. 	Establish a program of study that meets all of the following criteria:
	(1)	Is designed to meet industry standards and prepare students for success in postsecondary education and the workforce.
	(2)	Integrates academic coursework; includes foundational and transitory career and technical education coursework; includes work-based learning; and utilizes the individual career and academic planning process established under 281—Chapter 49.
	(3)	Integrates as a portion of the career academy a hands-on, contextualized learning component.
	(4)	Allows students enrolled in the academy an opportunity to continue on to an associate degree and, if applicable, a postsecondary baccalaureate degree program.
	46.11(2) Contract or agreement. A career academy must receive approval from district and community college boards participating in the career academy. A contract or 28E agreement is to set forth the purposes, powers, rights, objectives, and responsibilities of the contracting parties and be signed by all participating parties and be in effect prior to initiation of a career academy. An assurance form, as defined by the department, which specifies that the career academy includes all the components under this rule will be sent to the director.
	46.11(3) Faculty. Faculty providing college credit instruction in a career academy program of study will meet community college faculty minimum standards as specified in 281—subrule 24.5(1) and the quality faculty plan as approved by the community college board pursuant to 281—subrule 24.5(7). Instructors teaching courses that provide only secondary level credit are to have appropriate secondary licensure pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3.
	46.11(4) Compliance. Districts and community colleges will maintain compliance with the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, 20 U.S.C. §2301 et seq., as amended, in implementing career academies.
	46.11(5) Data collection. Data collection and enrollment reporting is to contain such items as determined by the department.
[ARC 7795C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—46.12(258) Regional centers. The state board will adopt standards pertaining to regional centers. The standards include those which provide for increased and equitable access to high-quality career and technical education programs and require that regional centers incorporate appropriate educational programs, meet appropriate state and federal regulations for safety and access, maintain adequate participation, and are located within an appropriate distance of participating high schools, and that transportation is provided to all students.
	46.12(1) Minimum requirements. As a condition for approval, a regional center will comply with standards adopted by the board and consist of a minimum of four career academies on site. A regional center will be compatible with the development of a statewide system of regional centers serving all students. A regional center will serve either of the following:
	a. 	A combined minimum of 120 students from no fewer than two school districts.
	b. 	A minimum of four school districts.
	46.12(2) Approval. The director will approve all facilities meeting the standards for regional centers under this rule.
[ARC 7795C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
281—46.13(423F) Career academy incentive fund. A career academy incentive fund is a competitive grant program established by the department to expand opportunities for students to access high-quality career and technical education programming through innovative partnerships between school districts and community colleges.
	46.13(1) Allowable expenses. Funding issued under this rule will be used by the recipient for purposes outlined in the proposal approved by the department to support the development of career academy infrastructure, including regional centers as defined under rule 281—46.12(258). For purposes of this rule, allowable expenses include the following:
	a. 	Purchase and improvement of grounds, including the legal costs relating to the property acquisition and surveys of the property.
	b. 	Construction of buildings and roads to buildings.
	c. 	Purchase or lease-purchase option agreements for buildings.
	d. 	Rental of facilities under Iowa Code chapter 28E.
	e. 	Purchase, lease, or lease-purchase of equipment or technology exceeding $500 in value per purchase or lease-purchase transaction. “Equipment” means both equipment and furnishings.
	f. 	Repair, remodel, reconstruction, improvement, or expansion of buildings and the additions to existing buildings.
	46.13(2) Applicants. Institutions eligible to apply for funds include a school district as defined under rule 281—12.2(256) or community college as defined under Iowa Code chapter 260C.
	46.13(3) Application proposals. Institutions seeking funds under this rule shall submit an application proposal to the department in a format prescribed by the department. An application for funding that includes more than one institution will designate a single institution to receive funds on behalf of all participating institutions. At a minimum, all applications will include one school district and one community college, though applications consisting of multiple school districts and a community college are encouraged.
	a. 	Service area and aligned occupation. Program information will be collected to identify the aligned service area and in-demand occupation as identified by the state workforce development board pursuant to Iowa Code section 84A.1B(14).
	b. 	Offerings and enrollments. Information will be provided on all career academy offerings made available by the participating institutions. All school districts will provide actual or estimated enrollment by high school in each of the offered career academies over the proceeding five-year period.
	c. 	Program structure. Each proposal will include a response to the following components:
	(1)	A sequence of coursework, inclusive of all aligned middle school, high school, and postsecondary offerings that constitute the career academy. The sequence of coursework is developed collaboratively between the school district or school districts and community college, and is to be depicted in a template provided by the department.
	(2)	A description and evidence of integrated project-, problem-, and work-based learning experiences.
	(3)	Identification of the third-party industry certifications either made available to the student through the program or which the program prepares the student to complete.
	d. 	Partnerships. If applicable, the applicant will provide information on all partnering institutions, and the extent to which each partnering institution is contributing resources to the initiative, including funds, staff, equipment, or other related resources.
	e. 	Business and industry involvement. If applicable, the applicant will provide information on business and industry involvement, including input solicited on offerings, donation of equipment, and contribution of funds.
	f. 	Approved contracts. Each district participating in the career academy will submit as evidence the contract approved by the district’s board established pursuant to subrule 46.11(2).
	46.13(4) Criteria for evaluating proposals.
	a. 	Priority. Application proposals will be ranked and sorted according to the following priorities:
	(1)	First priority. Proposals for a minimum of four new career academies delivered collaboratively between multiple school districts and a community college through a regional center as defined under rule 281—46.12(258) will receive priority consideration.
	(2)	Second priority. Proposals for existing career academies or establishing a new career academy delivered collaboratively between multiple school districts and a community college through an existing regional center as defined under rule 281—46.12(258) will receive second-priority consideration.
	(3)	Third priority. Proposals for new or existing career academies delivered through partnership arrangements other than a regional center, including but not limited to individual career academy offerings delivered by one school district, will receive third-priority consideration.
	b. 	Occupational alignment. Proposals for career academies aligned with high-demand occupations as identified by the state workforce development board pursuant to Iowa Code section 84A.1B(14) will be given preferential consideration.
	c. 	Improving access. Proposals for career academies that demonstrate that the grant funds will result in improved access to career and technical education programs for all students enrolled in participating school districts, including underrepresented and nontraditional students, as well as underserved geographical areas, will be given preferential consideration.
	d. 	Program structure. The proposals will be evaluated to determine the extent to which the components of paragraph 46.13(3)“c” are evident in the career academy program.
	e. 	Additional criteria. Subject to paragraphs 46.13(4)“a” and “b,” proposals will be evaluated against additional criteria including the following:
	(1)	Actual or projected enrollment for each participating high school over a five-year period is of sufficient size to support robust and sustainable offerings and justify the request for funding.
	(2)	Cumulative offerings provide students with access to a diverse array of coursework in multiple career and technical education service areas.
	(3)	If programming is delivered at an off-site location, the sending school district provides transportation to participating students.
	f. 	Budget. Institutions will submit a complete budget for the proposal, including a comprehensive summary of costs and a complete list of funding sources to be put toward implementing and sustaining the initiative.
	g. 	Regional center plan. Evidence will be provided to the department that the regional planning partnership established under this chapter and in which the applicants are participating members has developed a plan for regional centers under paragraph 46.10(4)“h.” The plan will identify any underserved areas of the region, including areas of low career and technical education enrollment and program offerings.
	46.13(5) Awarding grants. The department may fully or partially award funds for proposals submitted pursuant to subrule 46.13(3).
	a. 	The department will award funds for first-priority proposals that meet the criteria established in rank order. The department may award funds for second- and third-priority proposals based on availability of funds.
	b. 	A grant award issued under this rule is subject to the limits in Iowa Code section 257.51(3).
	46.13(6) Distribution of awarded grants. The department will award funds to the designated fiscal agent for approved proposals according to a payment schedule set by the department in consultation with the applicant. Initiatives approved for funding under this rule are to be completed within the agreed-upon time frame established in the payment schedule, with final payment awarded upon receipt of evidence that the initiative was completed as specified in the approved proposal, unless a waiver issued at the discretion of the director grants the recipient additional time to complete the approved proposal. Any unclaimed award balance will be used by the department to fund future initiatives under this rule.
[ARC 7795C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 258.
[Filed 10/18/69]
[Filed 6/19/81, Notice 3/18/81—published 7/8/81, effective 8/13/81]
[Filed 8/19/88, Notice 6/29/88—published 9/7/88, effective 10/12/88]
[Filed 9/13/91, Notice 2/6/91—published 10/2/91, effective 11/6/91]
[Filed 4/15/94, Notice 3/2/94—published 5/11/94, effective 6/15/94]
[Filed ARC 2947C (Notice ARC 2855C, IAB 12/7/16), IAB 2/15/17, effective 3/22/17]1
[Filed ARC 4163C (Notice ARC 4048C, IAB 10/10/18), IAB 12/5/18, effective 1/9/19]
[Filed ARC 4810C (Notice ARC 4684C, IAB 10/9/19), IAB 12/18/19, effective 1/22/20]
[Filed ARC 5872C (Notice ARC 5662C, IAB 6/2/21), IAB 8/25/21, effective 9/29/21]
[Filed ARC 7795C (Notice ARC 7592C, IAB 2/7/24), IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]
1	March 22, 2017, effective date of ARC 2947C [the rescission of Chapters 46 and 47 and the adoption of new Chapter 46] delayed until the adjournment of the 2018 General Assembly by the Administrative Rules Review Committee at its meeting held March 10, 2017.