VOCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1975

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY, AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR,

Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 9:40 a.m., pursuant to recess, in room 2175, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Carl Perkins (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Members present: Representatives Perkins, Andrews, Blouin, Quie, and Goodling.

Staff members present: John Jennings, counsel; Charles Radcliffe, minority counsel.

Chairman PERKINS. The Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education will continue its hearings today on occupational and vocational education.

The hearing today will be on the Career Guidance and Counseling Act of 1975, which was drafted by the American Personnel and Guidance Association. I was pleased to introduce that bill on behalf of the American Personnel and Guidance Association because that organization in my opinion is the most able organization in the country to give Congress recommendations in the field of career education and career guidance and counseling.

[Text of H.R. 3270 follows:]

[H.R. 3270, 94th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To provide for career guidance and counseling plans and programs for States and local educational agencies

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Career Guidance and Counseling Act of 1975."

TITLE I-GENERAL PROVISIONS

STATEMENT OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

SEC. 101. (a) The Congress finds that

(1) in a period of high unemployment and economic distress, an effective program of career guidance and counseling designed to assist individuals to make sound career decisions must be a national priority.

(2) the strength of the Nation rests, in part, upon natural differences in individual talents and upon the freedom of each individual to develop and express these talents in a unique way,

(3) the theory underlying career development is consonant with this fundamental democratic value,

(4) preservation of the individual's integrity disavows any type of prescriptive career guidance which commits the individual to particular directions,

(5) individuals, however, must develop greater awareness of the values society places on different talents and the relative demands for these talents. (6) the following factors, which impinge upon individuals in ways which make the achievement of self-fulfillment increasingly more difficult, demand that attention be paid to the career development of all individuals: (A) the need for knowledge of, and the ability to apply the decisionmaking proeess to, ever-increasing complex career decisions over the lifespan (early childhood throughout adulthood), (B) the demand for human adaptability and responsiveness arising from rapid technological change, (C) increasing national concern with the need to develop all human talent with equal attention to the talents of women and minorities, (D) concern for values, such as acceptance of the importance of all work and meeting one's needs through work, which give meaning to career development over the lifespan, (E) the need for specialized training for occupational entry, reentry, and career progression, and (F) the disenchantment expressed by students who have difficulty relating their education to their present and future career concerns, and

(7) all individuals are entitled to support, encouragement, information and assistance in achieving self-fulfillment throughout their life. (b) It is, therefore, the purpose of this Act to

(1) initiate, implement, and/or improve career guidance and counseling programs and activities for all individuals of all ages in all communities of the Nation,

(2) promote an understanding of educational and occupational options among individuals served, and

(3) facilitate career development over the lifespan for all such individuals, by means of meeting specific goals in the fields of career guidance and counseling programs and activities, training and retraining of professional career guidance and counseling staff (including counselor educators), and research and evaluation relating to guidance and counseling programs, staff, and activities.

(c) It is recognized that achievement of the aboved-stated purpose depends not only on the establishment and continued improvement of career guidance and counseling in the public school system, but also on the continued improvement, expansion, and utilization of similar programs now being provided to outof-school youth and adults by legislatively established public agencies such as Veterans' Administration, State employment services, and State vocational rehabilitation services, as well as by a network of other agencies, including private. nonprofit, and voluntary agencies. Therefore, it is the intent of this Act to utilize fully these existing resources, on a cooperative, coordinated basis to provide maximal services to the public without duplication and waste, and to provide for use of such funds as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 102. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of grants under section 211, $200,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $250,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $300,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978.

(b) (1) There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of contracts for preservice training of guidance personnel under section 221, $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $15,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978.

(2) There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of inservice training of guidance personnel under section 221, $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $15,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978.

(c) There are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year for purposes of section 231, an amount not to exceed 15 per centum of the total sums appropriated under subsections (a), (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) for such fiscal year. (d) There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of section 103, $150,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $200,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $200,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978.

(e) There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of section 104, $200,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $250,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $250,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978.

(f) There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of grants under section 202, such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year.

(g) There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of section 241, such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978.

OFFICE OF CAREER GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

SEC. 103. There is hereby established in the United States Office of Education an Office of Career Guidance and Counseling, which shall be responsible for administering this Act, and to be staffed by a Chief and such appropriate professional and other employees as may be required to carry out the purposes of this Act.

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL OF CAREER GUIDANCE: STUDY OF CAREER GUIDANCE

PROGRAMS

SEC. 104. (a) There is hereby established a National Advisory Council on Career Guidance and Counseling (hereinaftter referred to as the "Council") which shall be composed of fifteen members appointed by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, for terms of not longer than three years, who shall be broadly representative of the guidance and counseling profession at large. The Council shall advise the Secretary and the Commissioner of Education with respect to the administration of this Act, and shall carry out such other advisory functions as the Council deems appropriate, including the suggestion of policies and strategies to implement the career guidance and counseling concepts embodied in this legislation.

(b) The Council shall, with the assistance of the Commissioner and through the Office of Career Guidance and Counseling, conduct a survey and assessment of the current status of school and nonschool career guidance programs, projects and materials in the United States and report on such survey and assessment to the Secretary and to the Congress. Such report shall include any recommendations of the Council for new legislation designed to accomplish the policies and purposes set forth in this Act.

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 105. For purposes of this Act

(1) The term "appraisal" means the collection, analysis, and the use of a variety of objective and subjective personal, psychological, and social data about individuals for the purpose of assisting them to better understand their strengths and limitations.

(2) The term "career development" means those aspects of the continuous unbroken flow of an individual's experience that are of relevance to such individual's choice, entry, and progress in educational, vocational, and avocational pursuits.

(3) The term "career education" means an educational process designed to increase the relationship between schools and society as a whole; to provide opportunities for counseling, guidance, and career development for all children; to relate the subject matter of the curriculums of schools to the needs of persons to function in society; to extend the concept of the education process beyond the school into the area of employment and the community; to foster flexibility in attitudes, skills, and knowledge in order to enable persons to cope with accelerating change ond obsolescence; to make education more relevant to employment and functioning in society; and to eliminate any distinction between education for vocational purposes and general or academic education.

(4) The term 'career guidance" means providing for information and experiences, to assist individuals with their career development.

(5) The term "career information service" means the organization and delivery of occupational, educational, personal, and social information designed to provide individuals with a greater knowledge of all opportunities so that they may make better informed career choices and decisions.

(6) The term "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Education.

(7) The term "counseling" means the process through which a trained counselor assists an individual or group to make satisfying and responsible decisions concerning personal, educational, and career development.

(8) The term "counselor" means a professionally trained individual whose role includes counseling, consulting, and coordinating guidance and personnel services programs.

(9) The term "evaluation" means a systematic collection of evidence to determine whether in fact, certain changes are taking place in learners as well as to determine the amount or degree of change in individual students.

(10) The term "follow-up" means the study of any group of students or former students of an institution who have shared common experiences to determine if patterns emerge in their subsequent actions or behavior which prove useful in understanding, counseling, and establishing policies with current students.

(11) The term "guidance" means an organized effort to help each individual develop to such individual's maximum potential.

(12) The term "local educational agency" means a board of education or other legally constituted local school authority having administrative control and direction of public elementary or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or political subdivision in a State, or any other public educational institution or agency having administrative control and direction of a vocational program or a career guidance and counseling program.

(13) The term "placement" means the assistance given to individuals in the selection of an appropriate occupational or educational situation and the actions necessary to make the transition thereto.

(14) The term "postsecondary educational institution" means any institution of higher education including colleges and universities, vocational, technical, and proprietary schools as well as adult and community colleges.

(15) The term "State" includes, in addition to the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

(16) The term "State education agency" means that agency designated or created by State law as responsible for the administration of education and/or supervision of the administration thereof by local educational agencies in the State.

(17) The term "vocational education" means vocational or technical training or retraining which is given in schools or classes under public supervision and control or under contract with a State or local educational agency.

TITLE II-CAREER GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS

PART A-ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND GRANTS

STATE PLAN FOR CAREER GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. Each State which desires to receive a grant under section 211, shall submit through its State educational agency to the Commissioner for approval, through the Office of Career Guidance and Counseling (as established in section 103), a State plan for carcer guidance and counseling programs at such time and containing such information as the Commissioner, through the Office of Career Guidance and Counseling (as established in section 103), may require. Such plan shall include

(1) a description of the administrative arrangements, facilities, materials. personnel, goals and objectives, general program activities and methods of distribution of funds which will be employed in carrying out such programs; (2) assurances that funds received from grants under section 211 will be distributed only to local educational agencies which submit to the State education agency, plans for career guidance and counseling programs which shall include the purposes of such programs, and a description of the personnel, facilities, involvement of agencies, business, and industry in the community and methods of distribution of funds which will be employed in earrying out such programs. These plans should include specific provisions for close and effective cooperation with such agencies as the public employment service and vocational rehabilitation to extend their services to school program clientele in need of such services. If mutually beneficial and desirable, such provisions might include the outstationing of employment service and vocational rehabilitation staff on school premises and periodic exchange

of counselor personnel. Such provisions may include reimbursement for services provided;

(3) evidence that within the State plan, flexibility and experimentation is encouraged and provided for at the local level;

(4) establishment of a mechanism to insure that local educational agencies work cooperatively with the State educational agency in the development of the State plan and the implementation of the career guidance and counseling programs;

(5) the establishment of a State advisory committee on career guidance and counseling which shall be representative of the entire State and shall include representatives from the community at large, including students, parents, members of business, industry and labor, representatives of agencies such as vocational rehabilitation and the public employment services, practicing counselors, guidance directors, counselor educators and administrators, which will advise on general administrative policy, procedure, and direction in grant utilization, assist in review of local educational agency plans and assist in development evaluative procedures;

(6) assurances that funds received from grants under section 211 will be distributed only to local educational agencies which establish advisory committees on career guidance and counseling which include representatives as specified in section 201 (3) of this part and which advise the local educational agency on goals for the program, needs of the people served by such agency, administrative policy and procedures, resources within the area served by such agency and review of local plans, and assist such agency in implementing evaluative procedures;

(7) the establishment of at least one full-time administrative position within the State educational agency which shall be responsible for a statewide organization to carry out the purposes of this Act, including management of funds, local educational plans review, liaison between Federal Government and local educational administrations or other community agencies involved in the receipt of funds under this Act;

(8) the establishment of positions for consultants within the State educational agency, in order to provide professional leadership and expertise for full implementation of the purposes of this Act, who shall be involved in pre-service and in-service activities, funds administration, identifying materials and equipment, aiding with needs assessment and survey and methods for evaluation of programs;

(9) development of a system of program needs assessment which will be conducted on at least an annual basis and an evaluation of all activities and functions related to utilization of funds under this Act on a continuing basis; and

(10) assurances that funds received from grants under section 211 shall be distributed only to local educational agencies which designate a certificated counselor to provide leadership for career development and serve as contact for the State educational agency.

PART B-STATE CAREER DEVELOPMENT GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS

AUTHORIZATION AND USES OF GRANTS

SEC. 211. (a) From the sums appropriated under section 102(a), the Commissioner, through the Office of Career Guidance and Counseling (as established in section 103), shall make grants to States having approved plans under section 201 for distribution to local educational agencies and for the support of State education agency activities on the basis of statewide needs and priorities, for career development guidance and counseling programs and services.

(b) Grants under this section may be used, in accordance with State plans approved under section 201, for the following purposes :

(1) initiation, implementation, and improvement of professional career guidance and counseling programs and activities;

(2) promotion of career development over the lifespan (early childhood through adulthood) for all individuals;

(3) promotion of a greater understanding of educational and career options:

(4) providing for self and career awareness, planning, and preparation; (5) providing career counseling for all children, youth, and adults;

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