Modify Fourth-Year Innovation Pilot Program

      Joint Budget Committee. Under current law, the fourth-year innovation pilot program (program) provides state funding to students with low incomes who graduate early from a high school participating in the program.

Under the program, each year the general assembly appropriates an amount to the department of education (department) for the department to distribute to local education providers from which an eligible graduate graduated early.

The bill:

• Discontinues the amount appropriated by the general assembly to the department for distribution to eligible local education providers for eligible graduates who graduate during the 2025-26 school year; and

• Requires the department to prorate the amount distributed from the appropriation, if any.

Under the program, an eligible graduate may receive funding for tuition, fees, books, transportation, and other costs of attendance associated with their postsecondary program if, among other requirements, the eligible graduate commences their postsecondary program within 18 months after graduating early.

The bill requires an eligible graduate who graduates early in the 2025-26 school year to commence their postsecondary program by December 31, 2026.

Under current law, the department of higher education is required to submit a final evaluation report, including the impacts and outcomes of the program on the student cohorts that participated in the program and recommended next steps for the program. The bill repeals this requirement.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)