On February 7, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 33- More Opportunities for Career-Focused Students Act of 2024. This bill treats the pursuit of vocational careers and education as equivalent to a postsecondary education.
SB 33 aligns with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future goals and with the work many counties are already doing to support college and career readiness for public school students, like partnering with community colleges and increasing career and technical education(CTE) opportunities.
Maryland counties have historically supported alternative education and career paths, but doing so has recently become an even greater priority for local governments in response to the shifting labor market and workforce demands. Counties, like other employers, continue to face a shortage of vocational trade staff to hire or contract for critical infrastructure and public works projects.
SB 33’s cross-file, HB 837, was heard on February 14, 2024 in the House Ways and Means Committee. Brianna January submitted written testimony in support of this bill. SB 33 was heard in the opposite chamber, the House’s Ways and Means Committee, on March 20. MACo submitted testimony in support of this bill.
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