(5) provide assurances that the eligible recipient will provide a vocational and technical education program that is of such size, scope, and quality to bring about improvement in the quality of vocational and technical education programs;

(6) describe the process that will be used to independently evaluate and continuously improve the performance of the eligible recipient;

(7) describe how the eligible recipient

(A) will review vocational and technical education programs, and identify and adopt strategies to overcome barriers that result in lowering rates of access to or lowering success in the programs, for special populations; and

(B) will provide programs that are designed to enable the special populations to meet the State adjusted levels of performance;

(8) describe how individuals who are members of the special populations will not be discriminated against on the basis of their status as members of the special populations;

(9) describe how funds will be used to promote preparation for nontraditional training and employment; and

(10) describe how comprehensive professional development (including initial teacher preparation) for vocational and technical, academic, guidance, and administrative personnel will be provided.

(20 U.S.C. 2354)

SEC. 135. LOCAL USES OF FUNDS.

(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.-Each eligible recipient that receives funds under this part shall use such funds to improve vocational and technical education programs.

(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR USES OF FUNDS.-Funds made available to eligible recipients under this part shall be used to support vocational and technical education programs that

(1) strengthen the academic, and vocational and technical skills of students participating in vocational and technical education programs by strengthening the academic, and vocational and technical components of such programs through the integration of academics with vocational and technical education programs through a coherent sequence of courses to ensure learning in the core academic, and vocational and technical subjects;

(2) provide students with strong experience in and understanding of all aspects of an industry;

(3) develop, improve, or expand the use of technology in vocational and technical education, which may include

(A) training of vocational and technical education personnel to use state-of-the-art technology, which may include distance learning;

(B) providing vocational and technical education students with the academic, and vocational and technical skills that lead to entry into the high technology and telecommunications field; or

(C) encouraging schools to work with high technology industries to offer voluntary internships and mentoring programs;

(4) provide professional development programs to teachers, counselors, and administrators, including

(A) inservice and preservice training in state-of-the-art vocational and technical education programs and techniques, in effective teaching skills based on research, and in effective practices to improve parental and community involvement;

(B) support of education programs for teachers of vocational and technical education in public schools and other public school personnel who are involved in the direct delivery of educational services to vocational and technical education students, to ensure that such teachers and personnel stay current with all aspects of an industry;

(C) internship programs that provide business experience to teachers; and

(D) programs designed to train teachers specifically in the use and application of technology;

(5) develop and implement evaluations of the vocational and technical education programs carried out with funds under this title, including an assessment of how the needs of special populations are being met;

(6) initiate, improve, expand, and modernize quality vocational and technical education programs;

(7) provide services and activities that are of sufficient size, scope, and quality to be effective; and

(8) link secondary vocational and technical education and postsecondary vocational and technical education, including implementing tech-prep programs.

(c) PERMISSIVE.-Funds made available to an eligible recipient under this title may be used

(1) to involve parents, businesses, and labor organizations as appropriate, in the design, implementation, and evaluation of vocational and technical education programs authorized under this title, including establishing effective programs and procedures to enable informed and effective participation in such programs;

(2) to provide career guidance and academic counseling for students participating in vocational and technical education programs;

(3) to provide work-related experience, such as internships, cooperative education, school-based enterprises, entrepreneurship, and job shadowing that are related to vocational and technical education programs;

(4) to provide programs for special populations;

(5) for local education and business partnerships;

(6) to assist vocational and technical student organizations;

(7) for mentoring and support services;

(8) for leasing, purchasing, upgrading or adapting equipment, including instructional aides;

(9) for teacher preparation programs that assist individuals who are interested in becoming vocational and technical education instructors, including individuals with experience in business and industry;

(10) for improving or developing new vocational and technical education courses;

(11) to provide support for family and consumer sciences programs;

(12) to provide vocational and technical education programs for adults and school dropouts to complete their secondary school education;

(13) to provide assistance to students who have participated in services and activities under this title in finding an appropriate job and continuing their education;

(14) to support nontraditional training and employment activities; and

(15) to support other vocational and technical education activities that are consistent with the purpose of this Act.

(d) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.-Each eligible recipient receiving funds under this part shall not use more than 5 percent of the funds for administrative costs associated with the administration of activities assisted under this section.

(20 U.S.C. 2355)

TITLE II-TECH-PREP EDUCATION

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the "Tech-Prep Education Act".

(20 U.S.C. 2371 note)

SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.

(a) 1 In this title:

(1) ARTICULATION AGREEMENT.-The term "articulation agreement" means a written commitment to a program designed to provide students with a nonduplicative sequence of progressive achievement leading to degrees or certificates in a tech-prep education program.

(2) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.-The college"

term "community

(A) means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, that provides not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's degree; and

(B) includes tribally controlled colleges or universities. (3) TECH-PREP PROGRAM.-The term "tech-prep program" means a program of study that—

(A) combines at a minimum 2 years of secondary education (as determined under State law) with a minimum of 2 years of postsecondary education in a nonduplicative, sequential course of study;

(B) integrates academic, and vocational and technical, instruction, and utilizes work-based and worksite learning where appropriate and available;

(C) provides technical preparation in a career field such as engineering technology, applied science, a mechan

1 So in law. There is no subsection (b).

ical, industrial, or practical art or trade, agriculture, health occupations, business, or applied economics;

(D) builds student competence in mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, economics, and workplace skills through applied, contextual academics, and integrated instruction, in a coherent sequence of

courses;

(E) leads to an associate or a baccalaureate degree or a postsecondary certificate in a specific career field; and (F) leads to placement in appropriate employment or to further education.

(20 U.S.C. 2371)

SEC. 203. STATE ALLOTMENT AND APPLICATION.

(a) IN GENERAL.-For any fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot the amount made available under section 206 among the States in the same manner as funds are allotted to States under paragraph (2) of section 111(a).

(b) PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE AGENCIES.-The Secretary shall make a payment in the amount of a State's allotment under subsection (a) to the eligible agency that serves the State and has an application approved under subsection (c).

(c) STATE APPLICATION.-Each eligible agency desiring assistance under this title shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.

(20 U.S.C. 2372)

SEC. 204. TECH-PREP EDUCATION.

(a) GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-From amounts made available to each eligible agency under section 203, the eligible agency, in accordance with the provisions of this title, shall award grants, on a competitive basis or on the basis of a formula determined by the eligible agency, for tech-prep education programs described in subsection (c). The grants shall be awarded to consortia between or among

(A) a local educational agency, an intermediate educational agency or area vocational and technical education school serving secondary school students, or a secondary school funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and

(B)(i) a nonprofit institution of higher education that offers

(I) a 2-year associate degree program, or a 2-year certificate program, and is qualified as institutions of higher education pursuant to section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, including an institution receiving assistance under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and a tribally controlled postsecondary vocational and technical institution; or

(II) a 2-year apprenticeship program that follows secondary instruction,

if such nonprofit institution of higher education is not prohibited from receiving assistance under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et

seq.) pursuant to the provisions of section 435(a)(3) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1083(a)); or

(ii) a proprietary institution of higher education that offers a 2-year associate degree program and is qualified as an institution of higher education pursuant to section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, if such proprietary institution of higher education is not subject to a default management plan required by the Secretary. (2) SPECIAL RULE. In addition, a consortium described in paragraph (1) may include 1 or more

(A) institutions of higher education that award a baccalaureate degree; and

(B) employer or labor organizations.

(b) DURATION.-Each grant recipient shall use amounts provided under the grant to develop and operate a 4- or 6-year techprep education program described in subsection (c).

(c) CONTENTS OF TECH-PREP PROGRAM.-Each tech-prep program shall

(1) be carried out under an articulation agreement between the participants in the consortium;

(2) consist of at least 2 years of secondary school preceding graduation and 2 years or more of higher education, or an apprenticeship program of at least 2 years following secondary instruction, with a common core of required proficiency in mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, and technologies designed to lead to an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate in a specific career field;

(3) include the development of tech-prep programs for both secondary and postsecondary, including consortium, participants in the consortium that

(A) meets academic standards developed by the State; (B) links secondary schools and 2-year postsecondary institutions, and if possible and practicable, 4-year institutions of higher education through nonduplicative sequences of courses in career fields, including the investigation of opportunities for tech-prep secondary students to enroll concurrently in secondary and postsecondary coursework;

(C) uses, if appropriate and available, work-based or worksite learning in conjunction with business and all aspects of an industry; and

(D) uses educational technology and distance learning, as appropriate, to involve all the consortium partners more fully in the development and operation of programs; (4) include in-service training for teachers that

(A) is designed to train vocational and technical teachers to effectively implement tech-prep programs;

(B) provides for joint training for teachers in the techprep consortium;

(C) is designed to ensure that teachers and administrators stay current with the needs, expectations, and methods of business and all aspects of an industry;

(D) focuses on training postsecondary education faculty in the use of contextual and applied curricula and instruction; and