Industry-recognized credentials; career development success program
HRS §302A-453
in effect302A-453. Industry-recognized credentials; career development success program
(a) There is established within the department a career development success program to provide financial incentives for participating high schools to encourage students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in public high schools to enroll in and successfully complete qualified industry-credential programs.
(b) Beginning with the 2022-2023 fiscal year,
each participating school may receive up to $1,000 for each pupil who, in the
preceding fiscal year, successfully completes a qualified industry-credential
program. The funds shall be distributed to participating schools as provided
in subsections (e) and (f).
(c) Each participating school may decide
annually whether to participate in the career development success program.
(d) The department shall create a process with
a deadline for participating schools to report student credential attainment.
(e) For each fiscal year, the department shall
distribute to each participating school an amount equal to $1,000 multiplied by
the number of pupils reported by the participating school as successfully
earning an industry certificate by completing a qualified industry-credential
program; provided that a participating school shall not receive a distribution
for more than ten per cent of the total number of completed industry
certificates reported by all participating schools.
(f) For each fiscal year, the department shall
distribute funds in the following order until all funds are disbursed:
(1) Based on the order received by the department,
funds shall be distributed first to participating schools for all who attained
Advanced Credentials;
(2) Based on the order received by the department,
funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Door
Opener Credentials;
(3) Based on the order received by the department,
funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained
Springboard Credentials;
(4) Based on the order received by the department,
funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained
Foundational Credentials; and
(5) Any remaining funds shall be deposited into the
general fund.
(g) Each participating school shall regularly
communicate to all high school students the availability of qualified
industry-credential programs and the benefits a student receives as a result of
successfully completing one of the programs or courses. The participating
school shall design the communications to students with the goal of increasing
participation in the qualified industry-credential programs and courses across
all student subgroups.
(h) As used in this section:
"Advanced Credentials" means
credentials that signal proficiency in industry-specific skills for priority
occupations that may also require a bachelor's degree,
as determined by the department.
"Door Opener Credentials" means
credentials that signal proficiency in industry-specific skills for priority
occupations that require some post-secondary education, including certificates
and associate degrees, as determined by the department.
"Foundational Credentials" means
credentials that prepare learners with essential knowledge and skills for a
range of priority occupations, including workplace safety, as determined by the
department.
"Participating school" means a public
high school that chooses to participate in the career development success
program established pursuant to this section.
"Qualified
industry-credential program" means a program that is recognized by the
department as offering students the opportunity to attain a high-value industry
credential.
"Springboard Credentials" means
credentials that signal proficiency in industry-specific skills for priority
occupations that often do not require a postsecondary certificate or degree, as
determined by the department.
[L 2022, c 143, §2]
Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0302A/HRS_0302A-0453.htmFetched: 11/10/2026