ORS 327.820 Connecting to the World of Work Program; strategic investments for program

The State Board of Education shall establish the Connecting to the World of Work Program to:

Increase students’ proficiency in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and

Connect students to the world of work.

To accomplish the purposes of the Connecting to the World of Work Program, the State Board of Education shall identify programs for the distribution of moneys by the Department of Education for strategic investments that advance the following missions:

Collaborating with other public entities to develop and implement a long-term strategy that advances state educational goals related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Providing investments in programs that engage underserved students in science, technology, engineering or mathematics or in career and technical education.

Developing consortiums of school districts, education service districts and post-secondary institutions of higher education committed to developing innovative and flexible pathways for students in grades 6 through 12 and in community colleges.

In addition to moneys distributed as provided by subsection (2) of this section, the Department of Education may distribute strategic investment moneys for any of the following purposes:

Creating regional networks, or expanding existing regional networks, to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics and career and technical education;

Increasing learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the arts and career and technical education; or

Designing and delivering individualized, innovative and flexible ways of delivering content, awarding high school and college credit and providing development education for students in high school or in the first two years of post-secondary education.