What activities may the Secretary fund?

The Secretary provides grants and cooperative agreements for projects that organize and operate business-labor-education technical committees that propose national standards for competencies in industries and trades, including standards for— (a) Major divisions or specialty areas identified within occupations studied; (b) Minimum hours of study to be competent in those divisions or specialty areas; (c) Minimum tools and equipment required in those divisions or specialty areas; (d) Minimum qualifications for instructional staff; and (e) Minimum tasks to be included in any course of study purporting to prepare individuals for work in those divisions or specialty areas. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2416)