DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.

SEC. 406. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. (a) In General.— Part B of title IV of the Act is amended to read as follows: “PART B— DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS “SEC. 411. PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED. “(a) In General.— From amounts available pursuant to section 101(a)(1)(A) in each fiscal year, the Secretary shall make demonstration grants in accordance with the provisions of this part. “(b) Priority.— In awarding demonstration grants pursuant to this part, the Secretary shall give priority to the programs described in sections 412 and 413. “SEC. 412. MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS. “(a) General Authority.— The Secretary is authorized to make grants to nonprofit educational telecommunications entities to pay the Federal share of the costs of the development, production, and distribution of instructional telecommunications materials and services for use in local vocational and technical educational schools and colleges. “(b) Federal Share.— (1) The Federal share of the cost of each project assisted under this section shall be 50 percent. “(2) The non-Federal share of the cost of each project assisted under this section shall be provided from non-Federal sources. “(c) Use of Funds.— Grants awarded pursuant to this section may be used to provide— “(1) a sequential course of study that includes either preproduced video courseware or direct interactive teaching delivered via satellite, accompanied by a variety of print and computer-based instructional materials; “(2) the development of individual videocassettes or a series of videocassettes that supplement instruction, which shall be distributed both via broadcast and nonbroadcast means; “(3) videodiscs that produce simulated hands-on training; and “(4) teacher training programs for vocational educators and administrators and correctional educators. 104 STAT. 813 “(d) Priority.— In awarding grants under this section the Secretary shall give priority to programs or projects which serve— “(1) students in area vocational and technical schools; “(2) teachers, administrators, and counselors in need of training or retraining; “(3) out-of-school adults in need of basic skills improvement or a high school equivalency diploma to improve the employability of such individuals; “(4) college students, particularly college students who are working toward a 2-year associate degree from a technical or community college; “(5) workers in need of basic skills, vocational instruction, or career counseling to retain employment; and “(6) workers who need to improve their skills to obtain jobs in high-growth industries. “SEC. 413. DEMONSTRATION CENTERS FOR THE TRAINING OF DIS-LOCATED WORKERS. “(a) General Authority.— The Secretary is authorized to establish 1 or more demonstration centers for the retraining of dislocated workers. Such center or centers may provide for the recruitment of unemployed workers, vocational evaluation, assessment and counseling services, vocational and technical training, support services, and job placement assistance. The design and operation of each center shall provide for the utilization of appropriate existing Federal, State, and local programs. “(b) Evaluation.— The Secretary shall provide for the evaluation of each center established under subsection (a). “(c) Dissemination of Information.— The Secretary shall disseminate information on successful retraining models developed by any center established under subsection (a) through dissemination programs operated by the Secretary and the Secretary of Labor. “(d) Eligible Organizations.— Any private, nonprofit organization that is eligible to receive funding under the Job Training Partnership Act is eligible to receive funding under this section. “SEC. 414. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. “(a) Training and Study Grants.— (1) The Secretary is authorized to provide grants to institutions of higher education, State educational agencies, or State correctional education agencies to provide grants, awards, or stipends— “(A) to individuals who are entering the field of vocational education; “(B) for graduate training in vocational education; “(C) for vocational teacher education; and “(D) for attracting gifted and talented students in vocational programs into further study and professional development. “(2) Grants, awards, and stipends awarded under paragraph (1) shall provide— “(A) opportunities for experienced vocational educators; “(B) opportunities for— “(i) certified teachers who have been trained to teach in other fields to become vocational educators, including teachers with skills related to vocational fields who can be trained as vocational educators, and especially minority instructors and instructors with experience in teaching individuals who are economically disadvantaged, individ-104 STAT. 814uals with handicaps, students of limited English proficiency, and adult and juvenile criminal offenders; “(ii) individuals in industry who have skills and experience in vocational fields to be trained as vocational educators; and “(iii) vocational educators to improve or maintain techno-logical currency in their fields; and “(C) opportunities for gifted and talented vocational education secondary and postsecondary students to intern with Federal or State agencies, nationally recognized vocational education associations and student organizations or the National Center or Centers for Research in Vocational Education. “(b) Leadership Development Awards.— (1) In order to meet the needs of all States for qualified vocational education leaders (such as administrators, supervisors, teacher educators, researchers, career guidance and vocational counseling personnel, vocational student organization leadership personnel and teachers in vocational education programs), the Secretary shall make grants to institutions of higher education for leadership development awards. Individuals selected for such awards shall— “(A) have not less than 3 years of experience in vocational education or in industrial training, or, in the case of researchers, experience in social science research which is applicable to vocational education; “(B) are currently employed or are reasonably assured of employment in vocational education and have successfully completed at least a baccalaureate degree program; “(C) are recommended by their employer, or others, as having leadership potential in the field of vocational education and have been accepted for admission as a graduate student in a program of higher education approved by the Secretary; and “(D) have made a commitment to return to the field of vocational education upon completion of education provided through the leadership development award. “(2) For a period of not more than 3 years, stipends shall be paid to individuals selected for leadership development awards. Such stipends shall be paid (including allowances for tuition, nonrefundable fees, and other expenses for such individuals and their dependents) as may be determined to be consistent with prevailing practices. “(3) The Secretary may provide grants to institutions for stipends to individuals, which shall not exceed $9,000 per individual per academic year or its equivalent and $3,000 per individual per summer session or its equivalent. “(4) The Secretary shall approve the application of the vocational education program of an institution of higher education for the purposes of this section only upon finding that— “(A) the institution offers a comprehensive program in vocational education with adequate supporting services and disciplines such as education administration, career guidance and vocational counseling, research, and curriculum development; “(B) such program is designed to substantially advance the objective of improving vocational education through providing opportunities for graduate training of vocational teachers, supervisors, and administrators, and of university-level vocational education teacher educators and researchers; and 104 STAT. 815 “(C) such programs are conducted by a school of graduate study in the institution of higher education. “(5) The Secretary, in carrying out this subsection shall apportion leadership development awards to institutions of higher education equitably among the States, taking into account such factors as the State’s vocational education enrollments and the need for additional vocational education personnel in the State. “(6) Each individual who receives a leadership development award under this subsection shall receive payments as provided in paragraph (2) for not more than a 3-year period during which such individual is— “(A) pursuing a full-time course of study in vocational education in an approved institution of higher education; “(B) maintaining satisfactory proficiency in such course of study; and “(C) not engaged in gainful employment other than part-time employment by such institution in teaching, research, or similar activities. “(c) Vocational Educator Training Fellowships.— (1) The purpose of this subsection is to provide fellowships— “(A) to meet the need to provide adequate numbers of teachers and related classroom instructors in vocational education who are technologically current in their fields; “(B) to take full advantage of the education which has been provided to already certified teachers who are unable to find employment in their fields of training and of individuals employed in industry who have skills and experience in vocational fields; and “(C) to encourage more instructors from minority groups and teachers with skills and experience with individuals of limited English proficiency to become vocational education teachers. “(2) The Secretary shall make available fellowships, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, to individuals (especially minority instructors and instructors with experience in teaching individuals who are economically disadvantaged, individuals with disabilities, students of limited English proficiency, and adult and juvenile criminal offenders) who— “(A) (i) (I) are employed in vocational education and need an opportunity to improve or maintain technological skills; “(II) are certified by a State, or were so certified during the 10-year period preceding their application for a fellowship under this subsection, as teachers in secondary schools, area vocational education schools or institutes, or in community or junior colleges; and “(III) have skills and experiences in vocational fields so that such individuals can be trained to be vocational educators; or “(ii) are employed in agriculture, business, or industry (and may or may not hold a baccalaureate degree) and have skills and experience in vocational fields for which there is a need for vocational educators; “(B) have been accepted in a program to become a vocational educator by an institution of higher education approved by the Secretary; and “(C) have made a commitment to work in the field of vocational education upon completion of such program. “(2) The Secretary shall, for a period of not more than 2 years, provide stipends to individuals who are awarded fellowships under 104 STAT. 816this subsection (including such allowances for tuition, nonrefundable fees, subsistence and other expenses for such individuals and the dependents of such individuals) as the Secretary may determine to be consistent with prevailing practices. “(3) The Secretary shall approve an institution of higher education under this subsection if— “(A) the institution offers a comprehensive program in vocational education with adequate supporting services and disciplines such as education administration, career guidance and vocational counseling, research and curriculum development; and “(B) such program is available to individuals receiving fellow-ships under this subsection so that such individuals receive the same quality of education and training provided for under-graduate students at such institution who are preparing to become vocational education teachers. “(4) The Secretary shall apportion the fellowships available under this subsection equitably among the States, taking into account such factors as the State’s vocational education enrollments, and the need in the State for additional vocational educators, especially minority educators and individuals with skills and experience in teaching individuals of limited English proficiency. “(5) Individuals receiving fellowships under this subsection shall continue to receive payments provided in paragraph (2) only during such period as such individuals— “(A) are maintaining satisfactory proficiency; “(B) are devoting full time to study in the field of vocational education in an institution of higher education; and “(C) are not engaging in gainful employment other than part-time employment by such institution. “(6) (A) The Secretary shall, before the beginning of each fiscal year for which amounts are appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this subsection, publish a listing of— “(i) the areas of teaching in vocational education in need of additional personnel; “(ii) the areas of teaching which will likely have need of additional personnel in the future; and “(iii) areas of teaching in which technological upgrading may be especially critical. “(B) The listing required by subparagraph (A) shall be based on information from the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, State occupational information coordinating committees, the vocational education data system established pursuant to section 421, and other appropriate sources. “(7) In selecting recipients for fellowships under this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, grant fellowships to individuals seeking to become teachers or improve their skills in the areas identified in the listing required by paragraph (6)(A). “(d) Internships for Gifted and Talented Students.— (1) The purpose of this subsection is to provide stipends for internships to meet the need of attracting gifted and talented vocational education students into further study and professional development in the field of vocational education. “(2) (A) The Secretary shall, from recommendations provided by State directors of vocational education, select gifted and talented students from vocational education secondary and postsecondary 104 STAT. 817programs to work as interns for Federal and State agencies, nationally recognized vocational education associations, or the National Center or Centers for Research in Vocational Education. Each such student shall receive a stipend for the period of the student’s internship, which shall not exceed 9 months. Such stipend shall cover subsistence and other expenses for such individuals and shall be in such amount as the Secretary may determine to be consistent with prevailing practices. “(B) Each individual selected under this paragraph shall have been recommended as gifted and talented by a vocational educator at the secondary or postsecondary school the student attends. “(C) Each individual selected under this paragraph shall, during the period of such individual’s internship, be provided with professional supervision by an individual qualified and experienced in the field of vocational education at the agency or institution at which the internship is offered. “SEC. 415. BLUE RIBBON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. “(a) Information Dissemination.— The Secretary is authorized to disseminate information and exemplary materials regarding effective vocational education. “(b) Standards of Excellence.— (1) The Secretary, in consultation with the National Center or Centers for Research in Vocational Education (in this section referred to as the ‘National Center or Centers for Research’), the National Diffusion Network, and the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, is authorized to carry out programs to recognize secondary and postsecondary schools or programs which have established standards of excellence in vocational education and which have demonstrated a high level of quality. Such schools and programs shall be known as ‘Blue Ribbon Vocational Programs’. The Secretary shall competitively select schools and programs to be recognized from among public and private schools or programs within the States and schools funded by the Department of the Interior. “(2) In the case of a private school or vocational education program that is designated as a Blue Ribbon Vocational Education Program, the Secretary shall make suitable arrangements to provide the award to such school. “(c) Awards.— (1) The Secretary, in consultation with the National Center or Centers for Research and the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’), is authorized to designate each fiscal year a category or several categories of vocational education, which may include tech-prep education, in which Blue Ribbon Vocational Education Program awards will be named. Such categories shall emphasize the expansion or strengthening of the participation of individuals who are members of special populations and may give special consideration to any of the following: “(A) program improvement; “(B) academic and occupational competencies; and “(C) other categories determined by the Secretary in consultation with the National Center or Centers for Research and the Committee. “(2) Within each category, the Secretary shall determine the criteria and procedures for selection. Selection for such awards shall be based solely on merit. Schools or programs selected for awards 104 STAT. 818under this section shall not be required to be representative of the States. “(d) Consultation.— (1) The Secretary shall carry out the provisions of this section, including the establishment of the selection procedures, after consultation with appropriate outside parties. “(2) No award may be made under this section unless the local educational agency, area vocational education school, intermediate educational agency, tribal authority, Bureau of Indian Affairs, or appropriate State agency with jurisdiction over the school or program involved submits an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. “SEC. 416. DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS AND EDUCATION STANDARDS. “(a) Findings.—The Congress finds that, in order to meet the needs of business for competent entry-level workers who have received a quality vocational education, national standards should be developed for competencies in industries and trades. “(b) General Authority.— (1) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, is authorized to establish a program of grants to industrial trade associations, labor organizations, or com-parable national organizations for purposes of organizing and operating business-labor-education technical committees. “(2) The committees established with assistance under this section shall propose national standards for competencies in industries and trades. Such standards shall at least include standards for— “(A) major divisions or specialty areas identified within occupations studied; “(B) minimum hours of study to be competent in such divisions or specialty areas; “(C) minimum tools and equipment required in such 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 such divisions or specialty areas. “(c) Matching Requirement.— Each recipient of a grant under this section shall agree to provide for the committee to be established under the grant an amount equal to the amount provided under the grant. “(d) Application.— Any industrial trade association, labor organization, national joint apprenticeship committee, or com-parable national organization that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. “SEC. 417. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. “(a) Program Authorized.— The Secretary is authorized to make grants to Federal correctional institutions in consortia with educational institutions, community-based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness, or business and industry, to provide education and training for criminal offenders in such institutions. “(b) Use of Funds.— Grants awarded pursuant to this section may be used for— 104 STAT. 819 “(1) basic education programs with an emphasis on literacy instruction; “(2) vocational training programs; “(3) guidance and counseling programs; and “(4) supportive services for criminal offenders, with special emphasis on the coordination of educational services with agencies furnishing services to criminal offenders after such offenders are released from correctional institutions. “SEC. 418. DROPOUT PREVENTION. “(a) Program Authorized.— The Secretary is authorized to make grants to partnerships between— “(1) local educational agencies or area vocational education schools; and “(2) institutions of higher education or public or private nonprofit organizations which have an established record of vocational education strategies that prevent students from drop-ping out of school. “(b) Use of Funds.— Grants awarded under this section shall be used to develop, implement, and operate vocational education programs designed to prevent students from dropping out of school. Such programs shall— “(1) serve special populations, including significant numbers of economically disadvantaged dropout-prone youth; “(2) provide in-service training for teachers and administrators in dropout prevention; and “(3) disseminate information relating to successful dropout prevention strategies and programs through the National Drop-out Prevention Network and the Center on Adult, Career and Vocational Education of the Educational Resources Information Clearinghouse. “(c) Priority.— In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to partnerships which— “(1) provide the special support services necessary to help individual students successfully complete the program such as mentoring, basic skills education, and services which address barriers to learning; and “(2) utilize measures to integrate basic and academic skills instruction with work experience and vocational education. “SEC. 419. MODEL PROGRAMS OF REGIONAL TRAINING FOR SKILLED TRADES. “(a) Program Authorized.— The Secretary is authorized to make grants to regional model centers which provide— “(1) training for skilled tradesmen within a region serving several States, and “(2) technical assistance for programs which train such tradesmen within a region serving several States. “(b) Use of Funds.— The regional model centers described in subsection (a) shall— “(1) provide training and career counseling for skilled trades-men in areas of skill shortages or projected skilled shortages; “(2) provide prejob and apprenticeship training and career counseling in skilled trades; “(3) upgrade specialized craft training; and 104 STAT. 820 “(4) improve the access of women, minorities, economically disadvantaged individuals, individuals with handicaps and ex--criminal offenders to trade occupations and training. “(c) Special Rule.— In awarding grants under this section, and to the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure an equitable distribution of funds available under this section to the various skilled trades. “SEC. 420. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF VOCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING. “(a) Program Authorized.— The Secretary is authorized to make grants to institutions of higher education, area vocational education schools, local educational agencies, secondary schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, State boards, public or private nonprofit organizations, or any consortia thereof, to develop, implement and operate programs using different models of curricula which integrate vocational and academic learning by— “(1) designing integrated curricula and courses; “(2) providing in-service training for teachers and administrators in integrated curricula; and “(3) disseminating information regarding effective integrative strategies to other school districts through the National Diffusion Network established under section 1562 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. “(b) Requirements Relating to Grant Awards.— In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure— “(1) an equitable geographic distribution of funds awarded pursuant to this section; “(2) that programs supported under this section offer significantly different approaches to integrating curricula; “(3) that the programs supported under this section serve individuals who are members of special populations; “(4) that programs supported under this section serve— “(A) vocational students in secondary schools and at post-secondary institutions; “(B) individuals enrolled in adult programs; and “(C) single parents, displaced homemakers, and single pregnant women; and “(5) that adequate evaluation measures will be employed to measure the effectiveness of the curriculum approaches sup-ported under this section. “SEC. 420A. COOPERATIVE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. “(a) Program Authorized.— The Secretary is authorized to carry out, directly or through grants to or contracts with State and local educational agencies, postsecondary educational institutions, institutions of higher education, and other public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions, programs and projects which support— “(1) model programs providing improved access to quality vocational education programs for those individuals described in section 521(31) of this Act and for men and women seeking non-traditional occupations; “(2) examples of successful cooperation between the private sector and public agencies in vocational education, involving employers or consortia of employers or labor organizations and building trade councils, and State boards or eligible recipients 104 STAT. 821designed to demonstrate ways in which vocational education and the private sector of the economy can work together effectively to assist vocational education students to attain the advanced level of skills needed to make the transition from school to productive employment, including— “(A) work experience and apprenticeship programs; “(B) transitional worksite job training for vocational education students which is related to their occupational goals and closely linked to classroom and laboratory instruction provided by an eligible recipient; “(C) placement services in occupations which the students are preparing to enter; “(D) where practical, projects (such as the rehabilitation of public schools or housing in inner cities or economically depressed rural areas) that will benefit the public; and “(E) employment-based learning programs; “(3) programs to overcome national skill shortages, as designated by the Secretary in cooperation with the Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Commerce; “(4) model programs described in section 312(b)(1), including child growth and development centers; “(5) grants to community-based organizations in partnerships with local schools, institutions of higher education, and businesses for programs and projects that assist disadvantaged youths in preparing for technical and professional health careers (which partnerships should include in-kind contributions from such schools, institutions, and businesses and involve health professionals serving as preceptors and counselors); and “(6) model programs providing improved access to vocational education programs through centers to be known as agriculture action centers, which programs shall be operated under regulations developed by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and— “(A) shall assist— “(i) individuals who are adversely affected by farm and rural economic downturns; “(ii) individuals who are dislocated from farming; and “(iii) individuals who are dislocated from agriculturally-related businesses and industries that are adversely affected by farm and rural economic downturns; “(B) shall provide services, including— “(i) crisis management counseling and outreach counseling that would include members of the family of the affected individual; “(ii) evaluation of vocational skills and counseling on enhancement of such skills; “(iii) assistance in obtaining training in basic, remedial, and literacy skills; “(iv) assistance in seeking employment and training in employment-seeking skills; and “(v) assistance in obtaining training related to operating a business or enterprise; “(C) shall provide for formal and on-the-job training to the extent practicable; and 104 STAT. 822 “(D) shall be coordinated with activities and discretionary programs conducted under title III of the Job Training Partnership Act. “(b) (1) Projects described in clause (2) of subsection (a) may include institutional and on-the-job training, supportive services authorized by this Act, and such other necessary assistance as the Secretary determines to be necessary for the successful completion of the project. “(2) Not less than 25 percent of the cost of the demonstration programs authorized by this subpart shall be provided by the recipient of the grant or contract, and such share may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, including facilities, overhead, personnel, and equipment fairly valued. “(c) All programs assisted under this section shall be— “(1) of direct service to individuals enrolled in such programs; and “(2) capable of wide replication by service providers. “(d) The Secretary shall disseminate the results of the programs and projects assisted under this section in a manner designed to improve the training of teachers, other instructional personnel, counsellors, and administrators who are needed to carry out the purposes of this Act.”.