Page images
PDF
EPUB

non-Federal sources and on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the funds received under subsection (a)(3).

(c) RESERVE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-From amounts made available under subsection (a)(1) to carry out this subsection, an eligible agency may award grants to eligible recipients for vocational and technical education activities described in section 135 in

(A) rural areas;

(B) areas with high percentages of vocational and technical education students;

(C) areas with high numbers of vocational and technical students; and

(D) communities negatively impacted by changes resulting from the amendments made by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Amendments of 1998 to the within State allocation under section 231 of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (as such section 231 was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Amendments of 1998).

(2) SPECIAL RULE.-Each eligible agency awarding a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to serve at least 2 of the categories described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1).

(20 U.S.C. 2322)

SEC. 113. ACCOUNTABILITY.

(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to establish a State performance accountability system, comprised of the activities described in this section, to assess the effectiveness of the State in achieving statewide progress in vocational and technical education, and to optimize the return of investment of Federal funds in vocational and technical education activities.

(b) STATE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

(1) IN GENERAL.-Each eligible agency, with input from eligible recipients, shall establish performance measures for a State that consist of

(A) the core indicators of performance described in paragraph (2)(A);

(B) any additional indicators of performance (if any) identified by the eligible agency under paragraph (2)(B); and

(C) a State adjusted level of performance described in paragraph (3)(A) for each core indicator of performance, and State levels of performance described in paragraph (3)(B) for each additional indicator of performance. (2) INDICATORS OF PERFORMANCE.—

(A) CORE INDICATORS OF PERFORMANCE.-Each eligible agency shall identify in the State plan core indicators of performance that include, at a minimum, measures of each of the following:

(i) Student attainment of challenging State established academic, and vocational and technical, skill proficiencies.

(ii) Student attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, a proficiency credential in conjunction with a secondary school diploma, or a postsecondary degree or credential.

(iii) Placement in, retention in, and completion of, postsecondary education or advanced training, placement in military service, or placement or retention in employment.

(iv) Student participation in and completion of vocational and technical education programs that lead to nontraditional training and employment.

(B) ADDITIONAL INDICATORS OF PERFORMANCE.-An eligible agency, with input from eligible recipients, may identify in the State plan additional indicators of performance for vocational and technical education activities authorized under the 1 title.

(C) EXISTING INDICATORS.-If a State previously has developed State performance measures that meet the requirements of this section, the State may use such performance measures to measure the progress of vocational and technical education students.

(D) STATE ROLE.-Indicators of performance described in this paragraph shall be established solely by each eligible agency with input from eligible recipients. (3) LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE.—

(A) STATE ADJUSTED LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE FOR CORE INDICATORS OF PERFORMANCE.

(i) IN GENERAL.-Each eligible agency, with input from eligible recipients, shall establish in the State plan submitted under section 122, levels of performance for each of the core indicators of performance described in paragraph (2)(A) for vocational and technical education activities authorized under this title. The levels of performance established under this subparagraph shall, at a minimum

(I) be expressed in a percentage or numerical form, so as to be objective, quantifiable, and measurable; and

(II) require the State to continually make progress toward improving the performance of vocational and technical education students.

(ii) IDENTIFICATION IN THE STATE PLAN.—Each eligible agency shall identify, in the State plan submitted under section 122, levels of performance for each of the core indicators of performance for the first 2 program years covered by the State plan.

(iii) AGREEMENT ON STATE ADJUSTED LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE FOR FIRST 2 YEARS.-The Secretary and each eligible agency shall reach agreement on the levels of performance for each of the core indicators of performance, for the first 2 program years covered by the State plan, taking into account the levels identified in the State plan under clause (ii) and the factors

1 So in law. Should probably be "this".

described in clause (vi). The levels of performance agreed to under this clause shall be considered to be the State adjusted level of performance for the State for such years and shall be incorporated into the State plan prior to the approval of such plan.

(iv) ROLE OF THE SECRETARY.-The role of the Secretary in the agreement described in clauses (iii) and (v) is limited to reaching agreement on the percentage or number of students who attain the State adjusted levels of performance.

(v) AGREEMENT ON STATE ADJUSTED LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE FOR 3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH YEARS.-Prior to the third program year covered by the State plan, the Secretary and each eligible agency shall reach agreement on the State adjusted levels of performance for each of the core indicators of performance for the third, fourth, and fifth program years covered by the State plan, taking into account the factors described in clause (vi). The State adjusted levels of performance agreed to under this clause shall be considered to be the State adjusted levels of performance for the State for such years and shall be incorporated into the State plan.

(vi) FACTORS.—The agreement described in clause (iii) or (v) shall take into account

(I) how the levels of performance involved compare with the State adjusted levels of performance established for other States taking into account factors including the characteristics of participants when the participants entered the program and the services or instruction to be provided; and

(II) the extent to which such levels of performance promote continuous improvement on the indicators of performance by such State.

(vii) REVISIONS.-If unanticipated circumstances arise in a State resulting in a significant change in the factors described in clause (vi)(II), the eligible agency may request that the State adjusted levels of performance agreed to under clause (iii) or (vi) be revised. The Secretary shall issue objective criteria and methods for making such revisions.

(B) LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE FOR ADDITIONAL INDICATORS. Each eligible agency shall identify in the State plan, State levels of performance for each of the additional indicators of performance described in paragraph (2)(B). Such levels shall be considered to be the State levels of performance for purposes of this title.

(c) REPORT.

(1) IN GENERAL.-Each eligible agency that receives an allotment under section 111 shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary a report regarding

(A) the progress of the State in achieving the State adjusted levels of performance on the core indicators of performance; and

(B) information on the levels of performance achieved by the State with respect to the additional indicators of performance, including the levels of performance for special populations.

(2) SPECIAL POPULATIONS.—The report submitted by the eligible agency in accordance with paragraph (1) shall include a quantifiable description of the progress special populations participating in vocational and technical education programs have made in meeting the State adjusted levels of performance established by the eligible agency.

(3) INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.-The Secretary

(A) shall make the information contained in such reports available to the general public;

(B) shall disseminate State-by-State comparisons of the information; and

(C) shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress copies of such reports.

(20 U.S.C. 2323)

SEC. 114. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

(a) PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary shall collect performance information about, and report on, the condition of vocational and technical education and on the effectiveness of State and local programs, services, and activities carried out under this title in order to provide the Secretary and Congress, as well as Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies, with information relevant to improvement in the quality and effectiveness of vocational and technical education. The Secretary annually shall report to Congress on the Secretary's aggregate analysis of performance information collected each year pursuant to this title, including an analysis of performance data regarding special populations.

(2) COMPATIBILITY.-The Secretary shall, to the extent feasible, ensure that the performance information system is compatible with other Federal information systems.

(3) ASSESSMENTS.-As a regular part of its assessments, the National Center for Education Statistics shall collect and report information on vocational and technical education for a nationally representative sample of students. Such assessment may include international comparisons.

(b) MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.—

(1) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION AT REASONABLE COST.The Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to secure at reasonable cost the information required by this title. To ensure reasonable cost, the Secretary, in consultation with the National Center for Education Statistics, the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and an entity assisted under section 118 shall determine the methodology to be used and the frequency with which information is to be collected.

(2) COOPERATION OF STATES.-All eligible agencies receiving assistance under this Act shall cooperate with the Secretary in implementing the information systems developed pursuant to this Act.

(c) RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DISSEMINATION, EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT.

(1) SINGLE PLAN.

(A) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary may, directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, carry out research, development, dissemination, evaluation and assessment, capacity building, and technical assistance with regard to the vocational and technical education programs under this Act. The Secretary shall develop a single plan for such activities.

(B) PLAN. Such plan shall

(i) identify the vocational and technical education activities described in subparagraph (A) the Secretary will carry out under this section;

(ii) describe how the Secretary will evaluate such vocational and technical education activities in accordance with paragraph (3); and

(iii) include such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(2) INDEPENDENT ADVISORY PANEL.-The Secretary shall appoint an independent advisory panel, consisting of vocational and technical education administrators, educators, researchers, and representatives of labor organizations, businesses, parents, guidance and counseling professionals, and other relevant groups, to advise the Secretary on the implementation of the assessment described in paragraph (3), including the issues to be addressed, the methodology of the studies involved, and the findings and recommendations resulting from the assessment. The panel shall submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, and the Secretary an independent analysis of the findings and recommendations resulting from the assessment described in paragraph (3). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the panel established under this subsection.

(3) EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT.

(A) IN GENERAL.-From amounts made available under paragraph (8), the Secretary shall provide for the conduct of an independent evaluation and assessment of vocational and technical education programs under this Act through studies and analyses conducted independently through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements that are awarded on a competitive basis.

(B) CONTENTS.-The assessment required under paragraph (1) shall include descriptions and evaluations of—

(i) the extent to which State, local, and tribal entities have developed, implemented, or improved State and local vocational and technical education programs and the effect of programs assisted under this Act on that development, implementation, or improvement, including the capacity of State, tribal, and local vocational and technical education systems to achieve the purpose of this Act;

(ii) the extent to which expenditures at the Federal, State, tribal, and local levels address program

« PreviousContinue »