§6102. Purposes and Congressional intent

(a) Purposes

The purposes of this chapter are-

(1) to establish a national framework within which all States can create statewide School-to-Work Opportunities systems that-

(A) are a part of comprehensive education reform;

(B) are integrated with the systems developed under the Goals 2000: Educate America Act [20 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.] and the National Skill Standards Act of 1994 [20 U.S.C. 5931 et seq.]; and

(C) offer opportunities for all students to participate in a performance-based education and training program that will-

(i) enable the students to earn portable credentials;

(ii) prepare the students for first jobs in high-skill, high-wage careers; and

(iii) increase their opportunities for further education, including education in a 4-year college or university;

(2) to facilitate the creation of a universal, high-quality school-to-work transition system that enables youths in the United States to identify and navigate paths to productive and progressively more rewarding roles in the workplace;

(3) to utilize workplaces as active learning environments in the educational process by making employers joint partners with educators in providing opportunities for all students to participate in high-quality, work-based learning experiences;

(4) to use Federal funds under this chapter as venture capital, to underwrite the initial costs of planning and establishing statewide School-to-Work Opportunities systems that will be maintained with other Federal, State, and local resources;

(5) to promote the formation of local partnerships that are dedicated to linking the worlds of school and work among secondary schools and postsecondary educational institutions, private and public employers, labor organizations, government, community-based organizations, parents, students, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and training and human service agencies;

(6) to promote the formation of local partnerships between elementary schools and secondary schools (including middle schools) and local businesses as an investment in future workplace productivity and competitiveness;

(7) to help all students attain high academic and occupational standards;

(8) to build on and advance a range of promising school-to-work activities, such as tech-prep education, career academies, school-to-apprenticeship programs, cooperative education, youth apprenticeship, school-sponsored enterprises, business-education compacts, and promising strategies that assist school dropouts, that can be developed into programs funded under this chapter;

(9) to improve the knowledge and skills of youths by integrating academic and occupational learning, integrating school-based and work-based learning, and building effective linkages between secondary and postsecondary education;

(10) to encourage the development and implementation of programs that will require paid high-quality, work-based learning experiences;

(11) to motivate all youths, including low-achieving youths, school dropouts, and youths with disabilities, to stay in or return to school or a classroom setting and strive to succeed, by providing enriched learning experiences and assistance in obtaining good jobs and continuing their education in postsecondary educational institutions;

(12) to expose students to a broad array of career opportunities, and facilitate the selection of career majors, based on individual interests, goals, strengths, and abilities;

(13) to increase opportunities for minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities, by enabling individuals to prepare for careers that are not traditional for their race, gender, or disability; and

(14) to further the National Education Goals set forth in title I of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act [20 U.S.C. 5811 et seq.].

(b) Congressional intent

It is the intent of Congress that the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education jointly administer this chapter in a flexible manner that-

(1) promotes State and local discretion in establishing and implementing statewide School-to-Work Opportunities systems and School-to-Work Opportunities programs; and

(2) contributes to reinventing government by-

(A) building on State and local capacity;

(B) eliminating duplication in education and training programs for youths by integrating such programs into 1 comprehensive system;

(C) maximizing the effective use of resources;

(D) supporting locally established initiatives;

(E) requiring measurable goals for performance; and

(F) offering flexibility in meeting such goals.

( Pub. L. 103–239, §3, May 4, 1994, 108 Stat. 570 .)

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 103–239, May 4, 1994, 108 Stat. 568 , which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6101 of this title and Tables.

The Goals 2000: Educate America Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(B), (14), is Pub. L. 103–227, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 125 (except titles V and IX), as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 68 (§5801 et seq.) of this title (except subchapters V (§5931 et seq.) and IX (§6001 et seq.)). Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§5811 et seq.) of chapter 68 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5801 of this title and Tables.

The National Skill Standards Act of 1994, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(B), is title V of Pub. L. 103–227, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 191 , which is classified generally to subchapter V (§5931 et seq.) of chapter 68 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 5931 of this title and Tables.