[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 65 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E826-E827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              THE CAREER PREPARATION EDUCATION REFORM ACT

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, April 6, 1995
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the administration's 
Career Preparation Education Reform Act.
  The administration's legislation ensures that: First, funds for in-
school youth are administered at the local level by schools; second, 
the governance structure for education which is determined by State law 
is respected; and, third, more funds are driven by a needs-based 
formula to local education agencies than in the current law.
  I want to strongly emphasize that, as under the current Perkins Act, 
any State that receives a grant must designate an education agency or 
agencies to be responsible for administration. In addition, the State 
plan must be submitted by the State education agency. This requirement 
will ensure that funds are used to improve career education in our 
schools and help schools participate in the development of effective 
school-to-work opportunity systems to prepare students for college and 
careers.
  I also want to emphasize that this bill ensures that funds will be 
distributed to local education agencies and postsecondary institutions 
based on need and directs more funds to local schools than before. It 
is critically important that we make sure that funds get down to those 
local schools and communities where the need is greatest.
  One of my major concerns over the years has been to ensure that 
students who are members of special populations benefit from
 Federal education investments. The intent of this legislation is to 
focus on achievement for special populations and to ensure that they 
have the chance to participate in quality programs. The legislation 
requires that the State describe in its plan how it will serve special 
populations, and uses a substate allocation formula that drives funds 
to the neediest schools and communities. States must gather and 
disseminate data on the effectiveness of services and activities in 
meeting the needs of women and special populations. They must review 
applications and grants to ensure that the needs of women, minorities, 
and other special populations are addressed. They must work to 
eliminate bias and stereotyping in education, and recommend best 
practices for serving members of special populations and for training 
for nontraditional jobs. States must set performance goals for students 
and provide reports on their progress in achieving their goals, 
including information on the progress of students who are members of 
special populations.

  I am committed to ensuring that students who are members of special 
populations receive quality services and the assistance they need to 
achieve the necessary skills to be successful. We intend to scrutinize 
this issue as legislation moves through the committee 
[[Page E827]] process to ensure that every effort is made to meet the 
needs of educationally disadvantaged young women and men.
  Let me highlight some other key features:
  First, the bill will encourage States to use their vocational 
education, elementary and secondary education, and second-chance 
program funds to develop comprehensive, quality school-to-work and 
education systems.
  Second, it proposes a State grant and a national program authority, 
and it will increase the amount of the formula-driven
 State grant distributed to schools and colleages.

  Third, it proposes that vocational education support the development 
of the in-school part of school-to-work opportunity systems.
  Nonetheless, as I introduce this legislation, there are several areas 
where I continue to have concerns, and I look forward to working with 
our colleagues on many of these provisions as this bill proceeds 
through the legislative process. Among these concerns are:
  The Perkins legislation should build more on the vocational system in 
place and improve upon those systems.
  Section 101 and 103--I want to work with our colleagues to strengthen 
these sections and write them so that the Federal investment is more 
focused and States and locals are held accountable for implementing the 
priorities.
  Section 104--I would like to see standards and limitations in the 
section permitting States and local education agencies to combine funds 
for any purpose in order to carry out services and activities.
  Section 113--I have another concern with regard to the option for 
States to develop alternative formulas to distribute funds to local 
education agencies.


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