CFR

403.203—What are the State's responsibilities for a State assessment?

(a) Each State board receiving assistance under the Act shall conduct an assessment of the quality of vocational education programs throughout the State using measurable objective criteria.

(b) In developing the assessment criteria, the State board shall—

(1) Consult with representatives of the groups described in 34 CFR 400.6(c); and

(2) Use information gathered by the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee and, if appropriate, other information.

(1) Develop assessment criteria no later than the beginning of the 1991-1992 school year; and

(2) Widely disseminate those criteria.

(d) Assessment criteria must include at least the following factors, but may include others:

(1) Integration of academic and vocational education.

(2) Sequential courses of study leading to both academic and occupational competencies.

(3) Increased student work skill attainment and job placement.

(4) Increased linkages between secondary and postsecondary educational institutions.

(5) Instruction and experience, to the extent practicable, in all aspects of an industry the students are preparing to enter.

(6) The ability of the eligible recipients to meet the needs of special populations with respect to vocational education.

(7) Raising the quality of vocational education programs in schools with a high concentration of poor and low-achieving students.

(8) The relevance of programs to the workplace and to the occupations for which students are to be trained, and the extent to which those programs reflect a realistic assessment of current and future labor market needs, including needs in areas of emerging technologies.

(9) The ability of the vocational curriculum, equipment, and instructional materials to meet the demands of the work force.

(10) Basic and higher order current and future workplace competencies that will reflect the hiring needs of employers.

(11) The capability of vocational education programs to meet the needs of individuals who are members of special populations.

(12) Other factors considered appropriate by the State board.

(e) The assessment must include an analysis of—

(1) The relative academic, occupational, training, and retraining needs of secondary, adult, and postsecondary students; and

(2) The capability of vocational education programs to provide vocational education students, to the extent practicable, with—

(i) Strong experience in, and understanding of, all aspects of the industry the students are preparing to enter (including planning, management, finances, technical and production skills, underlying principles of technology, labor and community issues, and health, safety, and environmental issues); and

(ii) Strong development and use of problem-solving skills and basic and advanced academic skills (including skills in the areas of mathematics, reading, writing, science, and social studies) in a technological setting.

(f) (1) Each State board shall complete the initial assessment required by paragraph (a) of this section before March 25, 1991, and, therefore, at least six months prior to the required submission of a new State plan to the Secretary.

(2) Each State board shall conduct an assessment under this section prior to the submission of each new State plan to the Secretary.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control No. 1830-0030)

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2323(a)(3) , (b)(3)(B), and 2326)

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