[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4885-S4886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2172. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 2089 submitted by Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mrs.
Murray) to the bill S. 1177, to reauthorize the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that every child achieves;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 101, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:
``(11) how the local education agency will implement
strategies to facilitate effective transitions for students
from middle school to high school and from high school to
postsecondary education, including a description of the
specific transition activities the local education agency
will take, such as providing students with access to dual or
concurrent enrollment opportunities that enable students
during high school to earn postsecondary credit or an
industry-recognized credential that meets any quality
standards required by the State or utilizing comprehensive
career counseling to identify student interests and skills;
``(12) if determined appropriate by the local education
agency, how such agency will support programs that promote
integrated academic and career and technical education
content through coordinated instructional strategies, which
may incorporate experiential learning opportunities;''.
On page 714, line 21, insert ``career and technical
education,'' after ``music,''.
On page 595, after line 21, add the following:
``PART J--CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION EXPLORATION PROGRAMS
``SEC. 5910. SHORT TITLE.
``This part may be cited as the `Building Understanding,
Investment, Learning, and Direction Career and Technical
Education Act of 2015' or the `BUILD Career and Technical
Education Act of 2015'.
``SEC. 5911. FINDINGS.
``Congress finds the following:
``(1) The average high school graduation rate for students
concentrating in career and technical education programs is
93 percent.
``(2) Students at schools with highly integrated rigorous
academic and career and technical education programs have
significantly higher achievement in reading, mathematics, and
science than do students at schools with less integrated
programs.
``(3) Four out of 5 graduates of secondary-level career and
technical education programs who pursued postsecondary
education after secondary school had earned a credential or
were still enrolled in postsecondary education 2 years later.
``(4) Eighty percent of students taking a college
preparatory academic curriculum with rigorous career and
technical education programs met college and career readiness
goals, compared to only 63 percent of students taking the
same academic core who did not experience rigorous career and
technical education programs.
``SEC. 5912. PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT CAREER AND
TECHNICAL EDUCATION EXPLORATION PROGRAM IN
MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this part are the
following:
``(1) To provide students with opportunities to participate
in career and technical education exploration programs and to
provide information on available career and technical
education programs and their impact on college and career
readiness.
``(2) To expand professional growth of, and career
opportunities for, students through career and technical
education exploration programs.
``(3) To enhance collaboration between education providers
and employers.
``(4) To develop or enhance career and technical education
exploration programs with ties to a career and technical
education program of study.
``(5) To evaluate students' participation in coordinated
middle school and high school career and technical education
exploration programs.
``(b) Definition of Career and Technical Education
Exploration Program.--In this part, the term `career and
technical education exploration program' means a course or
series of courses that provides experiential learning
opportunities in 1 or more programs of study (including after
school and during the summer), as appropriate, and the
opportunity to connect experiential learning to education and
career pathways that is offered to middle school students or
high school students, or both.
``(c) Authorization of Grant Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to
local educational agencies to support career and technical
education exploration programs.
``(2) Grant duration.--Grants awarded under this part shall
be 2 years in duration.
``(3) District capacity taken into account.--In awarding
grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into
account the resources and capacity of each local educational
agency that applies for a grant.
``(d) Applications.--A local educational agency that
desires to receive a grant under this part shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this part, the
Secretary shall give priority to grant proposals that--
``(1) demonstrate--
``(A) that a partnership among the local educational agency
and business, industry, labor, or institutions of higher
education, where appropriate to the grant project, exists and
will participate in carrying out grant activities under this
part;
``(B) innovative and sustainable design;
``(C) a curriculum aligned with State diploma requirements;
``(D) a focus on preparing students, including special
populations and nontraditional students, with opportunities
to explore careers and skills required for jobs in their
State and that provide high wages and are in demand;
``(E) a method of evaluating success; and
``(F) that the programs to be assisted with grant funds are
not receiving assistance under the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.); and
``(2) include an assurance that--
``(A) the local educational agency will fund the
operational costs of the activities described in this part
after the grant period expires; and
``(B) if the local educational agency charges a fee to
participate in the after school and summer components of the
career and technical education exploration program to be
carried out by the agency, the agency will implement such fee
on a sliding scale according to income and established in a
manner that makes participation financially feasible for all
students.
``(f) Uses of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--A local educational agency that receives
a grant under this part shall use the grant funds to carry
out any of the following:
``(A) Leasing, purchasing, upgrading, or adapting equipment
related to the content of career and technical education
exploration program activities.
``(B) Program director, instructor, or other staff expenses
to coordinate or implement program activities.
``(C) Consultation services with a direct alignment to the
program goals.
``(D) Support of professional development programs aligned
to the program goals.
``(E) Minor remodeling, if any, necessary to accommodate
new equipment obtained pursuant to subparagraph (A).
``(F) Evaluating the access to career and technical
education exploration programs and the impact such programs
have on the transition to career and technical programs of
study (as described in section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2342(c)(1)(A))), or other postsecondary programs of study,
high school completion, and the number of students who earn
an industry-recognized credential, associate's degree,
bachelor's degree, or other career and technical education
related postsecondary credit in addition to a high school
diploma.
``(2) Use and ownership of materials or equipment.--Any
materials or equipment purchased with grant funds awarded
under this part shall be the property of the local
educational agency.
``(3) Administrative costs.--A local educational agency
that receives a grant under this part may use not more than 5
percent of the grant funds for administrative costs
associated with carrying out activities under this part.
``(g) Evaluations.--
``(1) In general.--A local educational agency that receives
a grant under this part shall develop an evaluation plan of
grant activities that shall include an evaluation of specific
outcomes, described in paragraph (2), and progress toward
meeting such outcomes within the timeline of the grant that
shall be measurable through collection of appropriate data or
documented through other records. Such evaluation shall
reflect the resources and capacity of the local educational
agency.
``(2) Outcomes.--The specific outcomes shall clearly
address the following areas:
``(A) The extent of student participation in career and
technical education exploration programs.
``(B) Improved rigor in technical or academic content
aligned to diploma requirements and industry recognized
technical standards.
``(C) Improved alignment between career and technical
education and other courses, including core academic
subjects.
``(D) The impact such programs have on the transition to
career and technical programs of study (as described in
section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(A)))
and other postsecondary programs of study.
``(3) Submission to the department.--A local educational
agency that receives a grant under this part shall submit
evaluations conducted under this subsection to the Secretary.
``(h) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds received under this
part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, funds
that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under
this part.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to
[[Page S4886]]
carry out this part such sums as may be necessary.''.
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