Senate adopts vocational‑education amendment to Future Ready Education Act

The Future Ready Education Act (House Bill 54‑12) was amended on the Senate floor to require that vocational agricultural programs be offered each year to ensure students learn about agricultural opportunities, with an exception allowing county boards to decline offering a program if it is not viable.

The senator for Mason, who presented the amendment, said viability is defined by access to a certified teacher, workforce need, student interest and enrollment trends, funding, and facilities. The amendment also includes provisions for the science‑of‑reading training requirement beginning in the 2028–29 school year and allows the Department of Education to provide accommodations for counties whose teachers are working toward the training.

Senators adopted the amendment and advanced the bill toward passage. Supporters said the change ensures students are exposed to vocational options while preserving local control where programs are not feasible.

Next steps: the clerk recorded adoption of the amendment and the bill was prepared for further action and transmission to the House.