20 U.S.C. § 2324
The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Director, collect performance information about, and report on, the condition of career and technical education and on the effectiveness of State and local programs, services, and activities carried out under this subchapter 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 career and technical education. The Secretary shall report annually to Congress on the Secretary's aggregate analysis of performance information collected each year pursuant to this subchapter from eligible agencies under section 2323(b)(3)(C) of this title, including an analysis of performance data regarding special populations.
The Secretary shall, to the extent feasible, ensure that the performance information system is compatible with other Federal information systems.
As a regular part of its assessments, the National Center for Education Statistics shall collect and report information on career and technical education for a nationally representative sample of students. Such assessment may include international comparisons in the aggregate.
The Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to secure at reasonable cost the information required by this subchapter. To ensure reasonable cost, the Secretary, in consultation with the National Center for Education Statistics and the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education shall determine the methodology to be used and the frequency with which such information is to be collected.
The Secretary shall, 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 career and technical education programs under this chapter. The Secretary shall develop a single plan for such activities.
Such plan shall-
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall appoint an independent advisory panel to advise the Secretary on the implementation of the evaluation described in paragraph (2) and the plan developed under subsection (c), including the issues to be addressed and the methodology of the studies involved to ensure that the evaluation adheres to the highest standards of quality.
The advisory panel shall consist of-
The advisory panel shall transmit to the Secretary, the Director, the relevant committees of Congress, and the Library of Congress an independent analysis of the findings and recommendations resulting from the evaluation described in paragraph (2).
Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the panel established under this paragraph.
From amounts made available under subsection (f), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall provide for the conduct of a series of research and evaluation initiatives for each year for which funds are appropriated to carry out this chapter, which are aligned with the plan in subsection (c)(2), of career and technical education programs under this chapter, including the implementation of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, to the extent practicable, through studies and analyses conducted independently through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements that are awarded on a competitive basis. Whenever possible, data used for the evaluation for a fiscal year shall be data from the most recent fiscal year for which such data are available, and from the 5-year period preceding that fiscal year.
The evaluation required under subparagraph (A) shall include descriptions and evaluations of-
The Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress-
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the reports required by this subsection shall not be subject to any review outside the Department of Education before their transmittal to the relevant committees of Congress and the Secretary, but the President, the Secretary, the Director, and the independent advisory panel established under paragraph (1) may make such additional recommendations to Congress with respect to the assessment as the President, the Secretary, the Director, or the panel determine to be appropriate.
In addition to submitting the reports required under clause (i), the Secretary shall disseminate the results of the evaluation widely and on a timely basis in order to increase the understanding among State and local officials and educators of the effectiveness of programs and activities supported under the 1 chapter and of the career and technical education programs and programs of study that are most likely to produce positive educational and employment outcomes.
The Secretary may collect and disseminate information from States regarding State efforts to meet State determined levels of performance described in section 2323(b) of this title, as long as such information does not reveal any personally identifiable information.
The Secretary shall gather any information collected pursuant to subparagraph (A) and submit a report to the relevant committees in Congress.
From amounts made available under subsection (f), the Secretary, after consultation with the Director, the Commissioner for Education Research, and the States, and with input from the independent advisory panel established under subsection (d)(1)(A), shall award a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, on a competitive basis, to an institution of higher education or to a consortium of one or more institutions of higher education and one or more private nonprofit organizations or agencies, to carry out one or more of the activities described in subparagraph (B).
An institution or consortium receiving a grant under this paragraph shall use grant funds to carry out one or more of the following activities:
The institution or consortium receiving a grant under this paragraph shall annually prepare a report containing information about the key research findings of such entity under this paragraph and shall submit copies of the report to the Secretary and the Director. The Secretary shall submit copies of the report to the relevant committees of Congress, the Library of Congress, and each eligible agency.
The institution or consortium receiving a grant under this paragraph shall conduct dissemination and training activities based on the research carried out under this paragraph on a timely basis, including through dissemination networks and, as appropriate and relevant, technical assistance providers within the Department.
To identify, support, and rigorously evaluate evidence-based and innovative strategies and activities to improve and modernize career and technical education and align workforce skills with labor market needs as part of the State plan under section 2342 of this title and local application under section 2354 of this title and the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary may use not more than 20 percent of the amounts appropriated under subsection (f) to award grants to eligible entities, eligible institutions, or eligible recipients to carry out the activities described in paragraph (7).
Except as provided under subparagraph (B), to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient shall, through cash or in-kind contributions, provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the funds provided under such grant.
The Secretary may waive the matching fund requirement under subparagraph (A) if the eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient demonstrates exceptional circumstances.
To receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including, at a minimum-
In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to applications from eligible entities, eligible institutions, or eligible recipients that will predominantly serve students from low-income families.
In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall award no less than 25 percent of the total available funds for any fiscal year to eligible entities, eligible institutions, or eligible recipients proposing to fund career and technical education activities that serve-
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall reduce the amount of funds made available under such clause if the Secretary does not receive a sufficient number of applications of sufficient quality.
Grants awarded under this subsection shall be for a period of not more than 3 years.
The Secretary may extend such grants for not more than 1 additional 2-year period if the grantee demonstrates to the Secretary that the grantee is achieving the grantee's program objectives and, as applicable, has improved education outcomes for career and technical education students, including special populations.
An eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to modernize and improve effectiveness and alignment of career and technical education and to improve student outcomes in career and technical education, and rigorously evaluate such innovations, through one or more of the following activities:
Each eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient receiving a grant under this subsection shall provide for an independent evaluation of the activities carried out using such grant and submit to the Secretary an annual report that includes-
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-
1 So in original. Probably should be "this".
20 U.S.C. § 2324
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThe Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(A), (B)(viii), (4)(B)(ii), is Pub. L. 115-224, 132 Stat. 1563. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2018 Amendment note set out under section 2301 of this title and Tables.The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(B)(viii)(III), (4)(B)(ii)(V), is Pub. L. 113-128, 128 Stat. 1425, which enacted chapter 32 (§3101 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor, repealed chapter 30 (§2801 et seq.) of Title 29 and chapter 73 (§9201 et seq.) of this title, and made amendments to numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3101 of Title 29 and Tables. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(B)(viii)(III), (4)(B)(ii)(V), is Pub. L. 89-10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27, which is classified generally to chapter 70 (§6301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6301 of this title and Tables. The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (d)(4)(B)(ii)(V), is Pub. L. 89-329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219, which is classified generally to chapter 28 (§1001 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of this title and Tables.
PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 2324, Pub. L. 88-210, title I, §114, as added Pub. L. 105-332, §1(b), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3089, related to national activities, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 109-270.Another prior section 2324, Pub. L. 88-210, title I, §114, as added Pub. L. 98-524, §1, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2449; amended Pub. L. 101-392, §114, 104 Stat. 769, related to development and approval of State plans, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 105-332.
AMENDMENTS2022-Subsec. (d)(1)(D). Pub. L. 117-286 substituted "Chapter 10 of title 5" for "FACA" in heading and "Chapter 10 of title 5" for "The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)" in text.2018-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(1), substituted "The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Director, collect" for "The Secretary shall collect" and inserted "from eligible agencies under section 2323(b)(3)(C) of this title" after "pursuant to this subchapter".Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) required the collection of information at reasonable cost and the cooperation of eligible agencies receiving assistance under this chapter. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(3)(A), substituted "Secretary shall, directly" for "Secretary may, directly". Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(3)(B)(i), inserted ", acting through the Director," after "describe how the Secretary".Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(3)(B) (ii), inserted ", in consultation with the Director," after "Secretary".Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(A)(i), inserted ", acting through the Director," after "The Secretary" and "and the plan developed under subsection (c)" after "described in paragraph (2)" and substituted "evaluation" for "assessment" in two places. Subsec. (d)(1)(B)(vi). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(A) (ii)(II), inserted "qualified" before "intermediaries" and substituted "expertise, which may include individuals with expertise in addressing inequities in access to, and in opportunities for, academic and technical skill attainment;" for "expertise."Subsec. (d)(1)(B)(vii), (viii). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(A) (ii)(I), (III), added cls. (vii) and (viii). Subsec. (d)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(A) (iii), inserted "the Director," after "the Secretary," and substituted "evaluation" for "assessment".Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(B)(i), struck out "and assessment" after "Evaluation" in heading. Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(B) (ii), substituted "subsection (f), the Secretary, acting through the Director," for "subsection (e), the Secretary", "a series of research and evaluation initiatives for each year for which funds are appropriated to carry out this chapter, which are aligned with the plan in subsection (c)(2)," for "an independent evaluation and assessment", and "Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act" for "Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006" and inserted at end "Whenever possible, data used for the evaluation for a fiscal year shall be data from the most recent fiscal year for which such data are available, and from the 5-year period preceding that fiscal year."Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(B) (iii), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) set out the contents of the assessment required under subpar. (A). Subsec. (d)(2)(C)(i). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(B) (iv)(I), inserted ", in consultation with the Director," after "The Secretary" in introductory provisions, added subcls. (I) to (III), and struck out former subcls. (I) and (II) which required an interim report by Jan. 1, 2010, and a final report by July 1, 2011.Subsec. (d)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(B) (iv)(II), inserted "the Director," after "the President, the Secretary," in two places. Subsec. (d)(2)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(B) (iv)(III), added cl. (iii).Subsec. (d)(3)(A). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(C), substituted "State determined levels of performance described in section 2323(b) of this title, as long as such information does not reveal any personally identifiable information" for "State adjusted levels of performance described in section 2323(b) of this title". Subsec. (d)(4), (5). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(4)(D), added par. (4) and struck out former pars. (4) and (5) which related to grants for research and demonstration programs and dissemination of information. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(6), added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115-224, §113(5), (7), redesignated subsec. (e) as (f) and amended it generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012." 2015-Subsec. (d)(4)(A)(iii)(I)(aa). Pub. L. 114-95 substituted "integrating those programs with challenging State academic standards, as adopted by States under section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;" for "integrating those programs with academic content standards and student academic achievement standards, as adopted by States under section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;".2014-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113-76 substituted "Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education" for "Office of Vocational and Adult Education".
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115-224 effective July 1, 2019, see section 4 of Pub. L. 115-224, set out as a note under section 2301 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2015 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 114-95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114-95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.
- CTE concentrator
- The term "CTE concentrator" means-(A) at the secondary school level, a student served by an eligible recipient who has completed at least 2 courses in a single career and technical education program or program of study; and(B) at the postsecondary level, a student enrolled in an eligible recipient who has-(i) earned at least 12 credits within a career and technical education program or program of study; or(ii) completed such a program if the program encompasses fewer than 12 credits or the equivalent in total.
- Director
- The term "Director" means the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences.
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Education.
- career and technical education
- The term "career and technical education" means organized educational activities that-(A) offer a sequence of courses that-(i) provides individuals with rigorous academic content and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions, which may include high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations, which shall be, at the secondary level, aligned with the challenging State academic standards adopted by a State under section 6311(b)(1) of this title;(ii) provides technical skill proficiency or a recognized postsecondary credential, which may include an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and(iii) may include prerequisite courses (other than a remedial course) that meet the requirements of this subparagraph;(B) include competency-based, work-based, or other applied learning that supports the development of academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an industry, including entrepreneurship, of an individual;(C) to the extent practicable, coordinate between secondary and postsecondary education programs through programs of study, which may include coordination through articulation agreements, early college high school programs, dual or concurrent enrollment program opportunities, or other credit transfer agreements that provide postsecondary credit or advanced standing; and(D) may include career exploration at the high school level or as early as the middle grades (as such term is defined in section 7801 of this title).
- career guidance and academic counseling
- The term "career guidance and academic counseling" means guidance and counseling that-(A) provides access for students (and, as appropriate, parents and out-of-school youth) to information regarding career awareness exploration opportunities and planning with respect to an individual's occupational and academic future;(B) provides information to students (and, as appropriate, parents and out-of-school youth) with respect to career options, financial aid, job training, secondary and postsecondary options (including associate and baccalaureate degree programs), dual or concurrent enrollment programs, work-based learning opportunities, early college high schools, financial literacy, and support services, as appropriate; and(C) may provide assistance for special populations with respect to direct support services that enable students to persist in and complete career and technical education, programs of study, or career pathways.
- eligible agency
- The term "eligible agency" means a State board designated or created consistent with State law as the sole State agency responsible for the administration of career and technical education in the State or for the supervision of the administration of career and technical education in the State.
- eligible entity
- The term "eligible entity" means a consortium that includes the following:(A) Representatives of not less than 2 of the following categories of entities, 1 of which shall serve as the fiscal agent for the consortium:(i) A local educational agency or a consortium of such agencies.(ii) An educational service agency serving secondary school students.(iii) An area career and technical education school or a consortium of such schools.(iv) An Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Tribal educational agency.(v) An institution of higher education whose most common degree awarded is an associate degree, or a consortium of such institutions.(vi) An institution of higher education whose most common degree awarded is a bachelor's or higher degree, or a consortium of such institutions.(vii) A State educational agency.(B) One or more business or industry representative partners, which may include representatives of local or regional businesses or industries, including industry or sector partnerships in the local area, local workforce development boards, or labor organizations.(C) One or more stakeholders, which may include-(i) parents and students;(ii) representatives of local agencies serving out-of-school youth, homeless children and youth, and at-risk youth (as defined in section 6472 of this title);(iii) representatives of Indian tribes and Tribal organizations, where applicable;(iv) representatives of minority-serving institutions (as described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 1067q(a) of this title), where applicable;(v) representatives of special populations;(vi) representatives of adult career and technical education providers; or(vii) other relevant community stakeholders.
- eligible recipient
- The term "eligible recipient" means-(A) a local educational agency (including a public charter school that operates as a local educational agency), an area career and technical education school, an educational service agency, an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Tribal educational agency or a consortium, eligible to receive assistance under section 2351 of this title; or(B) an eligible institution or consortium of eligible institutions eligible to receive assistance under section 2352 of this title.
- non-traditional fields
- The term "non-traditional fields" means occupations or fields of work, such as careers in computer science, technology, and other current and emerging high skill occupations, for which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in each such occupation or field of work.
- professional development
- The term "professional development" means activities that-(A) are an integral part of eligible agency, eligible recipient, institution, or school strategies for providing educators (including teachers, principals, other school leaders, administrators, specialized instructional support personnel, career guidance and academic counselors, and paraprofessionals) with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable students to succeed in career and technical education, to meet challenging State academic standards under section 6311(b)(1) of this title, or to achieve academic skills at the postsecondary level; and(B) are sustained (not stand-alone, 1-day, or short-term workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom-focused, to the extent practicable evidence-based, and may include activities that-(i) improve and increase educators'-(I) knowledge of the academic and technical subjects;(II) understanding of how students learn; and(III) ability to analyze student work and achievement from multiple sources, including how to adjust instructional strategies, assessments, and materials based on such analysis;(ii) are an integral part of eligible recipients' improvement plans;(iii) allow personalized plans for each educator to address the educator's specific needs identified in observation or other feedback;(iv) support the recruitment, hiring, and training of effective educators, including educators who became certified through State and local alternative routes to certification;(v) advance educator understanding of-(I) effective instructional strategies that are evidence-based; and(II) strategies for improving student academic and technical achievement or substantially increasing the knowledge and teaching skills of educators;(vi) are developed with extensive participation of educators, parents, students, and representatives of Indian Tribes (as applicable), of schools and institutions served under this chapter;(vii) are designed to give educators of students who are English learners in career and technical education programs or programs of study the knowledge and skills to provide instruction and appropriate language and academic support services to those students, including the appropriate use of curricula and assessments;(viii) as a whole, are regularly evaluated for their impact on increased educator effectiveness and improved student academic and technical achievement, with the findings of the evaluations used to improve the quality of professional development;(ix) are designed to give educators of individuals with disabilities in career and technical education programs or programs of study the knowledge and skills to provide instruction and academic support services to those individuals, including positive behavioral interventions and supports, multi-tier system of supports, and use of accommodations;(x) include instruction in the use of data and assessments to inform and instruct classroom practice;(xi) include instruction in ways that educators may work more effectively with parents and families;(xii) provide follow-up training to educators who have participated in activities described in this paragraph that are designed to ensure that the knowledge and skills learned by the educators are implemented in the classroom;(xiii) promote the integration of academic knowledge and skills and relevant technical knowledge and skills, including programming jointly delivered to academic and career and technical education teachers; or(xiv) increase the ability of educators providing career and technical education instruction to stay current with industry standards.
- program of study
- The term "program of study" means a coordinated, nonduplicative sequence of academic and technical content at the secondary and postsecondary level that-(A) incorporates challenging State academic standards, including those adopted by a State under section 6311(b)(1) of this title;(B) addresses both academic and technical knowledge and skills, including employability skills;(C) is aligned with the needs of industries in the economy of the State, region, Tribal community, or local area;(D) progresses in specificity (beginning with all aspects of an industry or career cluster and leading to more occupation-specific instruction);(E) has multiple entry and exit points that incorporate credentialing; and(F) culminates in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential.
- special populations
- The term "special populations" means-(A) individuals with disabilities;(B) individuals from economically disadvantaged families, including low-income youth and adults;(C) individuals preparing for non-traditional fields;(D) single parents, including single pregnant women;(E) out-of-workforce individuals;(F) English learners;(G) homeless individuals described in section 11434a of title 42;(H) youth who are in, or have aged out of, the foster care system; and(I) youth with a parent who-(i) is a member of the armed forces (as such term is defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10); and(ii) is on active duty (as such term is defined in section 101(d)(1) of such title).
- work-based learning
- The term "work-based learning" means sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings, to the extent practicable, or simulated environments at an educational institution that foster in-depth, firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career field, that are aligned to curriculum and instruction.