UPDATE 1/30/18 @ 12:45 p.m.

A bipartisan bill that would increase access to career education and workforce training is heading to the West Virginia House.

Senate Bill 284 passed after a third reading on Tuesday.

The bill would create the West Virginia Invests Grant Program which is designed to eliminate the financial barrier to receiving an education at West Virginia's community and technical colleges.

The grant would cover the cost of tuition charged to all students for coursework leading to completion of their chosen associate degree or certificate.

The bill also would create Advanced Career Education, also known as ACE.

This would form a partnership between public secondary schools and community and tech colleges to establish the program.

Gov. Jim Justice referenced this proposed program in his State of the State address, saying students would be able to take advanced classes in high school, allowing them to prepare for post-secondary education or receive a certification or associates degree.

Republican Senate President Mitch Carmichael is the lead sponsor on the bill.

The bill will now be presented to the West Virginia House.

ORIGINAL STORY 1/15/18 @ 5:51 p.m.

A bipartisan group of West Virginia state senators introduced a bill on Monday that would increase access to career education and workforce training.

Senate Bill 284 creates the West Virginia Invests Grant Program. The program is designed to eliminate the financial barrier to receiving an education at West Virginia's community and technical colleges.

Legislative findings included in the bill cite that "investments in improving human capital are considered the most significant opportunity for improvement in West Virginia, especially because access to a specialized workforce is a significant factor for investment attraction."

Monday on the Senate floor, Senate President Mitch Carmichael said this year there is an opportunity to bring economic equality to the state.

"I think all of us agree, we've said it for years and years and years, that the true path to progress and opportunity is through educational attainment," Carmichael said. "If we properly manage our resources we can provide, essentially, scholarships to everyone – everyone – that wants to attend community and technical college, to further their education, to gain a stackable skill set, to allow them to take that trade or that education to the workforce, and to the job market, and better themselves."

Senate Bill 284 states that according to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median yearly earnings of an individual with an associate's degree is about $6,604 more than someone with only a high school diploma.

Democratic Sen. Robert Plymale is also in favor of the bill to cut the cost on community college.

"The earlier we start showing kids a pathway to an excellent job, and that we run very credible community college courses and degrees that you can actually go right into the job, in my estimation, we're on the right path."

Senate Bill 284 also creates Advanced Career Education, also known as ACE. This would form a partnership between public secondary schools and community and tech colleges to establish the program.

Gov. Jim Justice referenced this proposed program in his State of the State address, saying students would be able to take advanced classes in high school, allowing them to prepare for post-secondary education or receive a certification or associates degree.

The bill was referred on Monday to the Senate's Education committee.