AN ACT to appropriate funds to the department of public instruction to establish the high school to work PILOT grant program.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Public Instruction shall establish the High School to Work Grant Program (Program) for the 2023‑2024 school year. The purpose of the Program is to create opportunities for high school students in public school units to connect with local business to develop skills and contacts for future jobs. Public school units receiving grants pursuant to the Program shall use the funds to facilitate summer apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing experiences, and other opportunities for high school students to procure employment in needed trade fields and careers around the State.

SECTION 1.(b)  Any public school unit enrolling students in all or part of grades nine through 12 may submit an application to the Department of Public Instruction to receive a grant pursuant to the Program in accordance with a process developed by the Department. The Department shall select recipients based on criteria established by the Department.

SECTION 1.(c)  No later than February 15, 2024, the Department shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the Program. The report shall contain at least the following information:

(1)        The identity of each public school unit receiving funds pursuant to the Program.

(2)        The amount of funding provided to each public school unit that received a grant.

(3)        The use of funds by each public school unit that received a grant.

(4)        Recommendations to improve the Program.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year to support the High School to Work Grant Program established by this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.