A bill sponsored by State Sen. Brian Pettyjohn and State Rep. Bryan Shupe will soon provide help for recent high school graduates seeking an alternative to college. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 65 establishes the Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program (“FAST”).
FAST will provide tuition assistance to Delaware residents who have obtained a high school diploma, Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards, or a GED and enroll in an approved non-degree credit certificate program. Rep. Shupe says FAST is an effort to address the needs of non-college bound students seeking career training.
He notes the program will also provide overdue equity for such Delawareans. For more than 15 years, the Delaware SEED program has granted a free two-year college scholarship to resident high school graduates meeting modest qualifications.Under the FAST legislation, which was signed into law Thursday, the Workforce Development Board will create a list of eligible certificate programs.
High school graduates will have up to 24 months after graduation to take advantage of FAST. Individuals may be granted up to a maximum of $10,000 in assistance. The FAST program is required to be implemented by September 30, 2022.