Including Potomac State College in the definition of community and technical college education program for participation in the “Learn and Earn Program”
Summary
House Bill 4533 amends West Virginia’s Learn and Earn Program statute to make Potomac State College of West Virginia University permanently eligible to participate in the program. The bill also removes language describing the program as a “pilot,” signaling that the Legislature intends the program’s inclusion of Potomac State College to be ongoing rather than temporary. The underlying Learn and Earn Program remains a workforce-development cooperative education initiative that pairs students with employer partners, requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match from employers, and provides students with paid work experience while they complete technical education.
The bill keeps the existing structure of the program intact, including the requirement that participating institutions generally meet the definition of a community and technical college and that the council administer the program through rules. Its practical effect is to expand the pool of eligible institutions by expressly naming Potomac State College and to authorize the council to continue using Workforce Development Initiative funds to support implementation. The measure is framed as a continuation and expansion of an existing workforce training strategy rather than a new program.
Impact
HB4533 would amend §18B-3D-6 of the West Virginia Code, which governs the Learn and Earn Cooperative Education Program within the Workforce Development Initiative. The bill changes Potomac State College’s status from a time-limited pilot participant to a permanently eligible institution and removes references to the program as a pilot. This affects the Higher Education Policy Commission/council’s administration of the program, participating employers, and students enrolled in eligible technical programs, while leaving the employer cash-match requirement and other core program rules unchanged.
Sentiment
The available bill text suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the measure, with the Legislature emphasizing access to technical education, workforce development, and employer-student partnerships. The bill’s findings describe the program as a way to help working students complete high-wage technical programs and to encourage graduates to remain in West Virginia. No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no evidence in the supplied materials of organized opposition or divided sentiment.
Contention
The main policy point of contention implied by the bill is whether Potomac State College should remain in the Learn and Earn Program on a permanent basis or only as a pilot participant subject to later review by the council. The bill removes the council’s post-pilot determination language, which suggests a shift away from temporary evaluation and toward permanent inclusion. Any concerns would likely center on program expansion, use of Workforce Development Initiative funds, and whether Potomac State College should be treated like a community and technical college for this purpose, but no explicit objections are included in the provided materials.