FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2012

BOARD PRESIDENT APPLAUDS POSTSECONDARY CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION LEGISLATION

Implementation Already Underway

(TOPEKA) - Today, Andy Tompkins, President and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, issued the following statement regarding the ceremonial signing of SB 155, a new law that encourages high school students to enroll in community or technical college and provides students free tuition for technical education courses taken at nearby institutions:

"The Kansas Board of Regents is excited to help more Kansas high school students explore postsecondary career technical education (CTE) opportunities because of the Legislation signed. With increasing demand for a highly skilled and technical workforce, CTE provides an outstanding education and career path. Enabling high school students to graduate with an industry recognized credential, and college credits, also ensures students are exposed to the value of higher education and provided opportunities to increase earnings immediately to benefit their families and future education goals. The Board and its staff have already begun working with the Kansas State Department of Education to implement this important initiative and applaud the Governor and Legislature for developing and supporting this innovative approach to improve the lives of Kansans and the Kansas economy."

Additional information about the bill and the ceremonial signing may be found on Governor Brownback's website.

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About the Kansas Board of Regents:
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents, founded in 1925 and established in the Kansas Constitution, is the governing board of the six state universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, 19 community colleges, and six technical colleges). In addition, the Board administers the state’s student financial aid, adult education, GED, career and technical education programs, and the state university retirement plans. The Board also approves private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions to operate in Kansas, and administers the Kan-ed network, a statewide network that provides broadband Internet access and distance learning capabilities for schools, hospitals, and libraries.

For more information, contact Mary Jane Stankiewicz at (785) 296-3421 or mjstankiewicz@ksbor.org.

Visit the Kansas Board of Regents online at www.kansasregents.org.