order to provide this support the vocational education research program has been organized into seven areas of concern: curriculum development, patterns for State and local organization and administration, personnel recruitment and development, personal and social significance of work, occupational information and career choice processes, adult vocational education, and program evaluation. The requested $17,750,000 for fiscal year 1967 will be used to strengthen the Vocational education capabilities in each of the seven areas with emphasis on the needs of young people from economically depressed communities who have academic, socioeconomic or other handicaps which prevent them from qualifying for or succeeding as full-time workers. Approximately $6,300,000 will be used for continuation costs of projects begun in fiscal years 1965 and 1966, and about $11,450,000 will support the initiation of new research. A summary of the numbers of grants received and funded in 1965 and estimates for 1966 and 1967 follows: The following examples are significant research projects supported during 1965 and 1966: Research information on occupational training and its results, Bureau of Social Science Research The effectiveness of vocational and related education can be measured by examining the work histories, wages, career stability, and changes of vocational school graduates as compared with academic graduates, high school dropouts, and other identifiable groups of young people. This project represents a first step in developing this kind of information. It will investigate currently available data and determine the gaps in such information and will serve as a stepping stone from which to identify means for filling these information gaps. Learning laboratory to teach basic skills in a culturally deprived area, Dade County public schools A group of 275 culturally disadvantaged students with specifiable problems will be assigned to a learning laboratory. Work in the learning laboratory will include basic education courses, required remedial reading or speech therapy, intensive vocational guidance, and a series of enrichment experiences outside of the classroom. In addition, the laboratory will be furnished with attractive furniture, books, plants, pictures, and other kinds of materials and equipment not generally available in an average school serving a culturally disadvantaged population. Further, the laboratory will be open for student use from early in the morning until 9 p.m. at night. The progress and achievement of this group of students will be compared with that of a similar group who do not have access to the laboratory. Computer-assisted instruction in technical education, Pennsylvania State Uni versity This project provides support for the development of curriculum materials to be used in computer assisted instruction of post high school students. It will cover the subject areas of mathematics, engineering science, and writing and reading skills as they relate to technical education. The instructional materials will be tested to measure how well the individual student does when using computer assisted instruction for purposes of measuring not only the individual response but the effectiveness of the materials developed. In addition, graduate students assisting in the project will receive training in the use of the various machines and related procedures involved in computer assisted instruction. Vocational guidance and counseling guidelines for summer workshops, George Washington University A conference was held of key vocational guidance and counseling leaders throughout the United States. The purpose was to develop guidelines for the inservice training of vocational counselors. Changing technology, ways of acquiring up-to-date occupational information, new knowledge in the field of human and interpersonal relations, were among the priority subject areas which received attention. The guidelines developed as a result of this conference will be the basis for workshops during the summer and the school year for use throughout the country for updating the skills of vocational guidance counselors. Grants to States under Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 (grants, subsidies, and contributions): 1966 estimate.. 1967 estimate.. Increase_ $8, 000, 000 8, 000, 000 The request for $8 million in fiscal year 1967 represents the second half of the full authorization of $16 million for area vocational school construction under the provisions of the Appalachian Regional Redevelopment Act of 1965. The full authorization, with matching State funds, will provide facilities for 6,000 trainees at any one time. One project in the State of Georgia has been approved by the Appalachian Regional Commission with an allocation of $544,000 of Federal funds. It is anticipated that the initial appropriation of $8 million will be allocated during fiscal year 1966, and that architectural planning, site acquisition, and construction for most projects will be underway by July 1, 1966. The $8 million requested in fiscal year 1967 will permit the completion of vocational facilities projected by the States and approved by the Appalachian Regional Commission under the total authorization of $16 million included in the act. Work-study programs (object class 41): 1966 estimate.. 1967 estimate__. Decrease... $25, 000, 000 10, 000, 000 -15, 000, 000 The purpose of the work-study program is to provide part-time employment to students attending vocational education courses. Allotments to States are based upon populations in the 15-to-20-year age group. The law requires State matching funds during fiscal year 1967, equal to 25 percent of the total State's expenditure. Although broad-scale efforts are being made to improve the economic position of minority groups, those living in depressed areas, and those whose skills have been displaced by economic progress, much needs to be done to help school children who are unable to continue their studies without financial help. A total of 15,000 needy students participated in the work-study program during fiscal year 1965, approximately 27 percent of this number participated in the special summer work-study program designed to help these students earn funds to return to school and continue their vocational training. During fiscal year 1966, with $25 million available for the work-study program, it is expected that approximately 85,100 needy students will be provided employment to assist them in continuing their studies and complete their academic and vocational training. Reports from States indicate that the workstudy program has had a very beneficial effect toward reducing the large number of school dropouts. Funds requested for fiscal year 1967 will provide support for approximately 35,000 students. The program will eventually phase out as the Neighborhood Youth Corps program gradually assumes responsibility. Residential vocational schools (grants, subsidies, and contributions): 1966 estimate___ 1967 estimate_ Increase... $3,500, 000 3, 500, 000 Funds are requested in the amount of $3,500,000 to implement the authorization contained in the Vocational Education Act of 1963 (sec. 14) which permits the Commissioner of Education to make grants for residential vocational schools. These funds will permit grants for initial planning and architectural fees for seven residential vocational schools. They will provide opportunities for effective experimental, demonstration, and evaluation of the residential school concept. The schools will be located in the following locations: Atlanta, Ga., Okmulgee, Okla., Philadelphia, Pa., St. Louis, Mo., San Diego, Calif., Ashland, Ky., and Washington, D.C. At a time when less than one-half of our Nation's youth go to college from secondary schools, virtually all student loan guarantee programs are geared to the college-bound students. While a college education is a valuable asset, it is neither feasible nor desirable that all students pursue that form of postsecondary school training. There are many students who prefer to continue their education at a vocational school; usually these students know exactly the careers they wish to enter. It is in the national interest that assistance be provided to these students to help them achieve their aspirations and to provide the Nation's work force with more vocationally and technically trained persons which it so vitally needs. Only one State-New York-currently has a loan guarantee program comprehensive enough to include students in the vocational school category. The National Vocational Student Loan Insurance Act of 1965 authorizes the appropriation of funds to encourage States and nonprofit private institutions and organizations to establish adequate loan insurance programs for students who wish to attend postsecondary, business, trade, technical, and other vocational schools. It also authorizes a Federal loan insurance fund for students who do not have reasonable access to a State or private nonprofit program of loan insurance. The guaranteed loan program makes it possible for banks and other commercial sources of credit to make large amounts of credit available to students while exercising prudence in safeguarding funds entrusted to them. The program offers maximum encouragement and assistance to States to establish State loan insurance programs, and if a State is unable to do this, offers a similar assistance to nonprofit institutions and organizations. The act also provides that the Federal Government pay the total amount of interest on loans to qualified students (those whose family income is less than an adjusted $15,000) while they are pursuing a course of study and 3 percentage points of the interest thereafter. Families with adjusted incomes over $15,000 may take advantage of the guaranteed loans but must assume all interest payments. A supplemental appropriation of $1 million will be requested in 1966 to implement the program, and the 1967 requirements are estimated at $1,800,000. Advances for reserve funds These funds are to be used over a 3-year period for the establishment and strengthening of State and private nonprofit reserve funds. The act authorizes $1,875,000 for making advances to State and nonprofit student loan insurance programs; $850,000 of this authorization is being requested in a fiscal year 1966 supplemental. The balance of the authorization, $1,025,000, is requested for fiscal year 1967. Interest payments on insured loans Subsidization of interest payments on insured loans is estimated to cost $775,000 for fiscal year 1967, or an increase of $675,000 over the 1966 request of $100,000. Payments will be made for approximately 55,000 students in 1967, compared to 15,000 in 1966. Insurance fund An appropriation of $50,000 is being requested, in a fiscal year 1966 supplemental appropriation, to establish the Federal loan insurance fund for those students without access to a State or private nonprofit program. A charge of one-fourth of 1 percent will be made to all lending agencies to which insurance certificates are issued. This charge, together with the initial appropriation of $50,000 is believed to be sufficient to cover any defaults in fiscal year 1966. This amount will be transferred in 1967 to an account entitled the "Student loan insurance fund" which will be established by merging the student loan insur ance fund created by section 431 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Vocational student loan insurance fund created by section 138 or the Vocational Student Loan Insurance Act of 1965. Allotment of Federal funds to States and outlying parts under the Vocational Education Act of 1963 (Public Law 88-210) 1 Based upon authorizations of $177,500,000 with 10 percent reserved for research and special project activities. 2 No more than 1 percent of such allotment or $10,000 (whichever is the greater) may be expended for the development of the State plan provisions for work-study programs or for the administration of such programs. |