§185.5. Agricultural Education Immersion Program; pilot

            A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall create a pilot program to provide for the establishment of agricultural education immersion programs that provide students with a high-quality educational program that integrates agriculture-related instruction throughout all disciplines included in the curriculum.

            B. Agricultural immersion programs created pursuant to this Section shall:

            (1) Provide an articulated, sequentially-structured, total agricultural education program that prepares students for entrance into a postsecondary educational program or other certification that leads to a career.

            (2) Provide each student with an academically rigorous curriculum, work-based learning experiences, and student leadership opportunities within an agricultural context.

            (3) Integrate agriculture throughout the curriculum in a systematic manner that prepares students for successful careers in a wide array of agriculture-related industries and occupations, including food and crop science, soil science, animal science, fiber production, farm production, renewable resources, agricultural research, and agribusiness management and marketing.

            (4) Provide dual-enrollment opportunities that allow students to earn college credit hours that can be transferred to a postsecondary institution and industry-based certifications that qualify a student for employment upon graduation from high school.

            Acts 2014, No. 450, §1, eff. June 4, 2014.