§2344. State leadership activities

(a) General authority

From amounts reserved under section 2322(a)(2) of this title, each eligible agency shall conduct State leadership activities.

(b) Required uses of funds

The State leadership activities described in subsection (a) of this section shall include-

(1) an assessment of the vocational and technical education programs carried out with funds under this subchapter that includes an assessment of how the needs of special populations are being met and how such programs are designed to enable special populations to meet State adjusted levels of performance and prepare the special populations for further learning or for high skill, high wage careers;

(2) developing, improving, or expanding the use of technology in vocational and technical education that may include-

(A) training of vocational and technical education personnel to use state-of-the-art technology, that may include distance learning;

(B) providing vocational and technical education students with the academic, and vocational and technical skills that lead to entry into the high technology and telecommunications field; or

(C) encouraging schools to work with high technology industries to offer voluntary internships and mentoring programs;

(3) professional development programs, including providing comprehensive professional development (including initial teacher preparation) for vocational and technical, academic, guidance, and administrative personnel, that-

(A) will provide inservice and preservice training in state-of-the-art vocational and technical education programs and techniques, effective teaching skills based on research, and effective practices to improve parental and community involvement; and

(B) will help teachers and personnel to assist students in meeting the State adjusted levels of performance established under section 2323 of this title;

(C) will support education programs for teachers of vocational and technical education in public schools and other public school personnel who are involved in the direct delivery of educational services to vocational and technical education students to ensure that such teachers stay current with the needs, expectations, and methods of industry; and

(D) is integrated with the professional development activities that the State carries out under title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) and title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.];

(4) support for vocational and technical education programs that improve the academic, and vocational and technical skills of students participating in vocational and technical education programs by strengthening the academic, and vocational and technical components of such vocational and technical education programs through the integration of academics with vocational and technical education to ensure learning in the core academic, and vocational and technical subjects;

(5) providing preparation for nontraditional training and employment;

(6) supporting partnerships among local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, adult education providers, and, as appropriate, other entities, such as employers, labor organizations, parents, and local partnerships, to enable students to achieve State academic standards, and vocational and technical skills;

(7) serving individuals in State institutions, such as State correctional institutions and institutions that serve individuals with disabilities; and

(8) support for programs for special populations that lead to high skill, high wage careers.

(c) Permissible uses of funds

The leadership activities described in subsection (a) of this section may include-

(1) technical assistance for eligible recipients;

(2) improvement of career guidance and academic counseling programs that assist students in making informed academic, and vocational and technical education decisions;

(3) establishment of agreements between secondary and postsecondary vocational and technical education programs in order to provide postsecondary education and training opportunities for students participating in such vocational and technical education programs, such as tech-prep programs;

(4) support for cooperative education;

(5) support for vocational and technical student organizations, especially with respect to efforts to increase the participation of students who are members of special populations;

(6) support for public charter schools operating secondary vocational and technical education programs;

(7) support for vocational and technical education programs that offer experience in, and understanding of, all aspects of an industry for which students are preparing to enter;

(8) support for family and consumer sciences programs;

(9) support for education and business partnerships;

(10) support to improve or develop new vocational and technical education courses;

(11) providing vocational and technical education programs for adults and school dropouts to complete their secondary school education; and

(12) providing assistance to students, who have participated in services and activities under this subchapter, in finding an appropriate job and continuing their education.

(d) Restriction on uses of funds

An eligible agency that receives funds under section 2322(a)(2) of this title may not use any of such funds for administrative costs.

(Pub. L. 88–210, title I, §124, as added Pub. L. 105–332, §1(b), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3107 .)

References in Text

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(D), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27 , as amended generally by Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3519 . Title II of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§6601 et seq.) of chapter 70 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. (b)(3)(D), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219 , as amended. Title II of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§1021 et seq.) of chapter 28 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.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 2322 of this title.