 
             CHAPTER 44--VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
 
                   SUBCHAPTER II--TECH-PREP EDUCATION
 
Sec. 2373. Tech-prep education


(a) Grant program authorized

                           (1) In general

        From amounts made available to each eligible agency under 
    section 2372 of this title, the eligible agency, in accordance with 
    the provisions of this subchapter, shall award grants, on a 
    competitive basis or on the basis of a formula determined by the 
    eligible agency, for tech-prep education programs described in 
    subsection (c) of this section. The grants shall be awarded to 
    consortia between or among--
            (A) a local educational agency, an intermediate educational 
        agency or area vocational and technical education school serving 
        secondary school students, or a secondary school funded by the 
        Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
            (B)(i) a nonprofit institution of higher education that 
        offers--
                (I) a 2-year associate degree program, or a 2-year 
            certificate program, and is qualified as institutions of 
            higher education pursuant to section 102 of the Higher 
            Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1002], including an 
            institution receiving assistance under the Tribally 
            Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978 (25 
            U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and a tribally controlled postsecondary 
            vocational and technical institution; or
                (II) a 2-year apprenticeship program that follows 
            secondary instruction,

        if such nonprofit institution of higher education is not 
        prohibited from receiving assistance under part B of title IV of 
        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.) 
        pursuant to the provisions of section 435(a)(3) of such Act [20 
        U.S.C. 1085(a)(3)]; or
            (ii) a proprietary institution of higher education that 
        offers a 2-year associate degree program and is qualified as an 
        institution of higher education pursuant to section 102 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1002], if such 
        proprietary institution of higher education is not subject to a 
        default management plan required by the Secretary.

                          (2) Special rule

        In addition, a consortium described in paragraph (1) may include 
    1 or more--
            (A) institutions of higher education that award a 
        baccalaureate degree; and
            (B) employer or labor organizations.

(b) Duration

    Each grant recipient shall use amounts provided under the grant to 
develop and operate a 4- or 6-year tech-prep education program described 
in subsection (c) of this section.

(c) Contents of tech-prep program

    Each tech-prep program shall--
        (1) be carried out under an articulation agreement between the 
    participants in the consortium;
        (2) consist of at least 2 years of secondary school preceding 
    graduation and 2 years or more of higher education, or an 
    apprenticeship program of at least 2 years following secondary 
    instruction, with a common core of required proficiency in 
    mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, and 
    technologies designed to lead to an associate's degree or a 
    postsecondary certificate in a specific career field;
        (3) include the development of tech-prep programs for both 
    secondary and postsecondary, including consortium, participants in 
    the consortium that--
            (A) meets academic standards developed by the State;
            (B) links secondary schools and 2-year postsecondary 
        institutions, and if possible and practicable, 4-year 
        institutions of higher education through nonduplicative 
        sequences of courses in career fields, including the 
        investigation of opportunities for tech-prep secondary students 
        to enroll concurrently in secondary and postsecondary 
        coursework;
            (C) uses, if appropriate and available, work-based or 
        worksite learning in conjunction with business and all aspects 
        of an industry; and
            (D) uses educational technology and distance learning, as 
        appropriate, to involve all the consortium partners more fully 
        in the development and operation of programs;

        (4) include in-service training for teachers that--
            (A) is designed to train vocational and technical teachers 
        to effectively implement tech-prep programs;
            (B) provides for joint training for teachers in the tech-
        prep consortium;
            (C) is designed to ensure that teachers and administrators 
        stay current with the needs, expectations, and methods of 
        business and all aspects of an industry;
            (D) focuses on training postsecondary education faculty in 
        the use of contextual and applied curricula and instruction; and
            (E) provides training in the use and application of 
        technology;

        (5) include training programs for counselors designed to enable 
    counselors to more effectively--
            (A) provide information to students regarding tech-prep 
        education programs;
            (B) support student progress in completing tech-prep 
        programs;
            (C) provide information on related employment opportunities;
            (D) ensure that such students are placed in appropriate 
        employment; and
            (E) stay current with the needs, expectations, and methods 
        of business and all aspects of an industry;

        (6) provide equal access, to the full range of technical 
    preparation programs, to individuals who are members of special 
    populations, including the development of tech-prep program services 
    appropriate to the needs of special populations; and
        (7) provide for preparatory services that assist participants in 
    tech-prep programs.

(d) Additional authorized activities

    Each tech-prep program may--
        (1) provide for the acquisition of tech-prep program equipment;
        (2) acquire technical assistance from State or local entities 
    that have designed, established, and operated tech-prep programs 
    that have effectively used educational technology and distance 
    learning in the delivery of curricula and services and in the 
    articulation process; and
        (3) establish articulation agreements with institutions of 
    higher education, labor organizations, or businesses located inside 
    or outside the State and served by the consortium, especially with 
    regard to using distance learning and educational technology to 
    provide for the delivery of services and programs.

(Pub. L. 88-210, title II, Sec. 204, as added Pub. L. 105-332, 
Sec. 1(b), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3118.)

                       References in Text

    The Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 
1978, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i)(I), is Pub. L. 95-471, Oct. 
17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1325, as amended, which is classified principally to 
chapter 20 (Sec. 1801 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out 
under section 1801 of Title 25 and Tables.
    The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(B), 
is Pub. L. 89-329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219, as amended. Part B of 
title IV of the Act is classified generally to part B (Sec. 1071 et 
seq.) of subchapter IV 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.


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to this section were contained in sections 2394a 
and 2394b of this title, prior to the general amendment of this chapter 
by Pub. L. 105-332.
    A prior section 2373, Pub. L. 88-210, title III, Sec. 323, as added 
Pub. L. 98-524, Sec. 1, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2461; amended Pub. L. 
100-418, title VI, Sec. 6131(a)(2), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1509, 
provided for coordination of program with Job Training Partnership Act, 
prior to repeal by Pub. L. 101-392, title III, Sec. 305, title VII, 
Sec. 702(a), Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 786, 843, effective July 1, 1991.
    A prior section 204 of Pub. L. 88-210 was classified to section 2334 
of this title, prior to the general amendment of former subchapter II of 
this chapter by Pub. L. 101-392.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 2376 of this title.
