KSBA eNews Service, Frankfort, Sept. 26, 2016
Workforce chief wants every Kentucky student to graduate high school with some engagement in “college academic or college career”
By Brad Hughes
The Bevin administration’s top workforce development official understands that many Kentucky public school leaders aren’t happy with new, higher fees for students taking dual-credit courses. But he also believes K-12 officials don’t have to accept a “take it or leave it” rate from higher education institutions.
“What I would suggest is that you find a way to negotiate, and often the best way to do that is to talk to more than one institution,” Hal Heiner, secretary of the state Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, told the KSBA Board of Directors Friday in Frankfort. “There is something built into this (program). We wanted to preserve your right to cut a deal. So you can go to whatever college, university or whoever is willing to do it and cut a deal.”
Heiner was speaking about the $15 million dual-credit scholarship program created by the Bevin administration with funds allocated by the 2016 legislature. It marks the first time the state has allocated funds to support dual-credit studies. However, some districts have encountered financial difficulties with the program due to some institutions raising dual-credit course fees from $50 to $156.
Saying there were “hot conversations” about the fee structure – “What happens often is that when new resources show up, the price goes up” – Heiner urged district leaders to shop around if traditional higher ed partners aren’t willing to deal.
“$156 is the maximum, but there is no minimum,” he said. “You can go to your local community college campus and negotiate a deal. Say, ‘OK. We’ll pay $156 for that three-hour credit course, but, here’s the deal, we want $106 rebated to help us pay the teacher who is teaching your course.’
“Now they can say, ‘No,’ but they said they would negotiate on rebates. Likely, if it goes to the campus with their professor, it’s likely there will be no deal. They say they’re losing money on those. But if it’s with your teacher, there should be a deal there. And if they won’t do it, there may be 10 other colleges in Kentucky that will do it,” Heiner said, adding that the administration has a goal for 30 percent of Kentucky high school teachers to become adjunct faculty at higher education institutions.
“I hope we are headed so that essentially no student will be able to graduate without dual credits,” he said.
$100 million Work Ready Skills pool
Heiner noted that Kentucky school districts are among the 91 applicants invited to submit more specific bids to share another new pool of funds – $100 million in the Work Ready Skills Initiative – to upgrade job training facilities and equipment.
Getting more Kentucky adults with postsecondary studies is a passion point with the former civil engineer and Louisville businessman.
“From 2008 to 2010, about 7 ½ million jobs were lost in America. Eighty percent of those jobs (were held by) people with a high school education or less,” Heiner said. “But during the recovery period of 2010 to 2016, 11 ½ million ‘new economy’ jobs have been created, and 99 percent of those jobs have been filled with individuals with some education past high school.
“On average, a high school diploma is not enough to build a life on. If that’s true, what is our responsibility in the 13 to 15 years that we interact with the young people in our state? What I would suggest is that every single student be exposed to postsecondary education while they’re in high school,” Heiner said. “If we expose that student to some postsecondary work – college academic or college career – the likelihood that they will go on is way increased, and the likelihood that they will get a job in the $25,000 to $30,000 range skyrockets.
“I know we are talking about jobs and your responsibility is education. But I’d also say that the two are linked. We are trying to prepare students for the most interesting and fulfilled lives where they can support themselves and possibly a family,” Heiner told the KSBA board.
Photo above: Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Secretary Hal Heiner (center) makes a point Friday while meeting with the KSBA Board of Directors. Listening are (left) President Allen Kennedy of Hancock County and President elect David Webster of Simpson County.