|
 On
June 3, 2004, House Education and the Workforce Committee leaders introduced H.R.
4496, the "Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act" to reauthorize
the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 (The Perkins
Act). The date of Mark-up in the House Education Reform Subcommittee has not been
set up but it is expected that it could be held within the next two weeks.
The
Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act (H.R. 4496) would help states
better utilize federal funds for secondary and postsecondary vocational education
programs, increase accountability and emphasize student achievement, and strengthen
opportunities for coordination between secondary and postsecondary vocational
and technical education. "The Vocational and Technical Education for the Future
Act will help modernize vocational and technical education programs and ensure
students are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st Century," said Rep. John
Boehner, Chairman of the Education & the Workforce Committee. The
following is a summary of key provisions in H.R. 4496. | Streamlining
and Targeting Federal Funding, Maintaining Local Control | -
Combine funding for the Perkins state grant and Tech-Prep programs into one program,
and incorporate the activities of Tech-Prep, which was not intended to be a permanent
program, into the basic grant program
-
Increase the state reserve fund proportionally to the increase in funding from
Tech-Prep and ensure states spend a minimum of the amount previously provided
through the Tech-Prep program to support Tech-Prep activities
-
Target more funding to locally provided services by limiting the share of program
dollars that may be used for administrative costs
| | Improving
Accountability | -
Establish separate performance indicators appropriate for secondary and postsecondary
students
- Insist
states make continuous and substantial improvement in the academic and vocational
and technical achievement of students
-
Establish incentive grants for states that exceed their own state-developed, challenging
performance measures that reflect sustained or significant improvement, and allows
the use of incentive funds to reward states that have developed connections between
secondary and postsecondary education and integrated rigorous academic and technical
coursework. The bill would also permit states to award incentive grants to local
recipients for exemplary performance in carrying out vocational and technical
education programs
| | Emphasizing
Student Academic and Vocational and Technical Achievement | -
Ensure academic courses for vocational and technical students are rigorous and
challenging
-
Establish a new provision for state development of model sequences of courses
for vocational and technical program areas. Sequences of courses will incorporate
both secondary and postsecondary elements, and include rigorous and challenging
academic and vocational and technical content in a coordinated, non-duplicative
progression of courses. Sequences of courses will lead to a degree or credential
and may be adopted by local educational agencies and postsecondary institutions
as an option to offer students and their parents. The bill specifies that local
recipients will offer the courses of at least one model sequence of courses
-
Require states to use funds to effectively link secondary and postsecondary academic
and vocational and technical education to increase student academic achievement
|
The
National Grange passed a resolution at its 137th annual convention last year that
supports the federal government's continued investment in career vocational-technical
education by reauthorizing the Perkins Act. Related
press release Also, last April, the Grange urged its members to contact their
Members of Congress and urge them to reauthorize the Perkins Act at the level
of 1.34 billion. Related
action alert Currently, the Grange is working in partnership with FFA (formerly
Future Farmers of America) and National Association of Agricultural Educators
(NAAE) in advocating the reauthorization of the Perkins Act. THE
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE ACT HAS JUST BEEN INTRODUCED
AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE HOUSE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. PLEASE URGE YOUR CONGRESSMAN
TO CO-SPONSOR THIS LEGISLATION AND MOVE QUICKLY TO PASS IT.
Contact
information for U.S. House Representatives
| Sample
Letter: |
Dear
Congressman ___________:
I
am writing to urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 4496, the Vocational and Technical Education
for the Future Act. I am pleased that the bill proposes combining funding for
Tech-Prep and the Perkins Basic State Grant into one program and eliminating the
separate funding stream for Tech Prep, which could result in a loss of funding
overall. I also expect agriculture educational programs like the FFA (formerly
Future Farmers of America) to be able to get funded and supported through this
legislation. We
live in the 21st Century that requires strong academic and technical skills, technological
proficiency, and education and training beyond high school and H.R. 4496 will
help students be prepared to meet the challenges.
Sincerely, (Signature)
(Name)__________________________ (Grange/Grange
name and number) __________________________ |
|
If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by fax: 202-347-1091
or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
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