2. Strong vocational education leadership at the Federal level is important in achieving total objectives in providing quality vocational education for the youth and adults of this nation. Priorities need be given to an adequate staff of vocational educators who possess the necessary training and experience in vocational education in the areas of their major responsibilities. Additional staffing in U.S. Office of Education regional offices must be provided. Our State depends heavily upon the excellent assistance rendered by the regional office; however, if staffs were increased, additional assistance could be given our State.

3. Full funding as authorized by the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 has never been appropriated. Appropriations should be compatible to authorizations, otherwise false hopes are built upon funding levels which never materialize. Further, part E which provides for residential vocational education facilities has never been funded.

4. Although State-wide matching is now permissible in the basic grant programs and is a decided improvement over the matching by purpose as required by the Vocational Education Act of 1963, consideration should be given to reducing State and local matching requirements for parts of the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968. This is not to suggest that parts of the act which do not require State or local matching funds be changed.

5. The level of funding authorized for parts of the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 should be compatible with the needs of the specific programs as determined by the State. This can best be accomplished by Federal appropriations at the present or increased funding level in the form of a basic grant to the States with each State determining the amount of funding for parts of the Act based upon the State's priority needs.

6. The State plan provisions presently require considerable time and effort in the following of Federal guidelines. However, much of the plan is irrelevant in terms of the State's objectives, plans, and programs. It is felt that a State plan for vocational education is highly desirable, but that such plan should be flexible, simple in content, and better express the goals and objectives of the State.

The Better Schools Act of 1973 recently introduced by the administration contains provisions which are of great concern to vocational education. This educational revenue sharing would repeal existing vocational education legislation which has proven to be effective in providing our citizens with meanngful skills. We support categorical funding for vocational education instead of revenue sharing. Vocational education must serve all persons, not only disadvantaged youth in elementary and secondary schools as the Better Schools Act implies based on the State's share of funds determined by persons aged 5 through 17. Also, assurance must be provided that vocational education programs will continue to be administered through appropriate State designated agencies which is not the case in the Act in question. Vocational education priorities have been divided among priorities which are inconsistent with the educational needs of the individual states. Funds for vocational education would be in constant jeopardy with the distinct possibility of vocational education ceasing to carry out its purposes and serve the population for which it has responsibilities.

MAINE

State Director-Elwood A. Padham

INTRODUCTION

Maine is a rural state as large as the other five New England states combined. It has a population density of 27 persons per square mile, with approximately 1 million persons living in an area of 33,000 square miles.

Prior to the passage of the Vocational Education Act of 1963, less than one-third of the public high schools and less than one-fourth of the private high schools offered any type of vocational preparation for the youth of Maine. In 1962, only one high school offered a program of distributive education and only 13 high schools offered programs in trade and industrial education. Fourteen students were enrolled in distributive education; 517 in trade and industrial education education; 1,101 in vocational agriculture; and 3,935 in vocational home economics. In 1962 one postsecondary vocationaltechnical institute was founded and in operation; 360 students were enrolled in eight programs, such as automotives, building construction, etc.

All of Maine's programs of vocational education were funded from the following sources: State funds, $260,000; local funds, $272,000; Federal funds, $280,000; or approximately $820,000 was available for vocational education. It was very evident in 1962 that on the basis of comparison with other States Maine was far behind in promoting and supporting vocational education for high school, post high school and adult classes.

After the passage of the Vocational Education Act of 1963, and the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 the Federal Government poured millions of dollars into the arteries of the vocational education system. Maine hopes that this massive infusion is only the beginning. The Act and the Amendments motivated Maine to increase its own contribution so that the total expenditures for vocational education have expanded greatly. The number of students enrolled in vocationally approved courses offered in 149 Maine secondary schools during the 1971-72 school year, not including the regional technical vocational centers, was 13,119; 6,500 students were enrolled in regional technical vocational centers, and it was costing the Federal, State and local systems approximately $6,600,000 to operate these programs.

It is our belief that Maine has certainly extended itself over the past 10 years to make vocational education opportunities available to persons who need and want this type of education.

PUBLIC LAW 90-576-"PART B-STATE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS" a. Job Training Enrollments

[See attached enrollment forms:]

(360)

OE 4046 (5/63)

(Formerly DVE 553)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

OFFICE OF EDUCATION
WASHINGTON 25. D.C.

BUDGET BUREAU NO.
APPROVAL EXPIRES

NUMBER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFERING VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

(Smith-Hughes, George Barden)

READ INSTRUCTIONS ON BACK BEFORE COMPLETING

51-R155.16 3/15/64

• Include those institutions which offer both secondary and post-secondary programs.

3

3

PART I NUMBER OF LOCAL PERSONNEL IN VOCATIONAL & TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

PREPARED BY (Name and title)

DATE

FISCAL YR. ENDING

Oct., 1963

JUNE 30.19 63

STUDENTS ENROLLED AND COMPLETING PROGRAMS OF FARMING, AND FARMING STATUS

A school with a vocational agriculture program employing 1 or more teachers.