20 U.S.C. 2394-2394e, unless otherwise noted.
If the annual appropriation for tech-prep education exceeds $50,000,000, the State-Administered Tech-Prep Education Program provides financial assistance for—
(a) Planning and developing four-year or six-year programs designed to provide a tech-prep education program leading to a two-year associate degree or certificate; and
(b) Planning and developing, in a systematic manner, strong, comprehensive links between secondary schools
A State board of vocational education (State board) in the fifty States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, or the Virgin Islands is eligible for an allotment under this program.
(a) The Secretary makes allotments to State boards to provide funding for consortia described in § 406.30 for tech-prep education projects.
(b) A State board assists projects that must—
(1) Be carried out under an articulation agreement between the members of the consortium;
(2) Consist of the two years or four years of secondary school preceding graduation and two years of higher education, or an apprenticeship training program of at least two years following secondary instruction, with a common core of required proficiency in mathematics, science, communications, and technologies designed to lead to an associate degree or certificate in a specific career field;
(3) Include the development of tech-prep education program curricula appropriate to the needs of the consortium participants;
(4) Include in-service training for teachers that—
(i) Is designed to train teachers to implement tech-prep education program curricula effectively;
(ii) Provides for joint training for teachers from all participants in the consortium; and
(iii) May provide training on weekends, evenings, or during the summer in the form of sessions, institutes, or workshops;
(5) Include training activities for counselors designed to enable counselors to more effectively—
(i) Recruit students for tech-prep education programs;
(ii) Ensure that students successfully complete tech-prep education programs; and
(iii) Ensure that students are placed in appropriate employment;
(6) Provide equal access to the full range of tech-prep education programs to individuals who are members of special populations, including the development of tech-prep education program services appropriate to the needs of these individuals so that these individuals have an opportunity to enter tech-prep education that is equal to the opportunity afforded to the general student population; and
(7) Provide preparatory services that assist all populations to participate in tech-prep education programs.
(c) A project assisted under this part may also—
(1) Provide for the acquisition of tech-prep education program equipment; and
(2) Acquire, as part of the planning activities of the tech-prep education program, technical assistance from State or local entities that have successfully designed, established, and operated tech-prep education programs.
The following regulations apply to the State-Administered Tech-Prep Education Program:
(a) The regulations in this part 406.
(b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 400.
(a) The definitions in 34 CFR 400.4 apply to this part.
(b) The following definitions also apply to this part:
(1) Has the meaning provided in 34 CFR 400.4 for the term
(2) Includes tribally controlled community colleges.
(1) Proprietary institution of higher education;
(2) Postsecondary vocational institution;
(3) Department, division, or other administrative unit in a college or university that provides primarily or exclusively an accredited program of education in professional nursing and allied subjects leading to the degree of bachelor of nursing, or to be an equivalent degree, or to a graduate degree in nursing; and
(4) Department, division, or other administrative unit in a junior college, community college, college, or university that provides primarily or exclusively an accredited two-year program of education in professional nursing and allied subjects leading to an associate degree in nursing or an equivalent degree.
(1) Leads to an associate degree or two-year certificate;
(2) Provides technical preparation in at least one field of engineering technology, applied science, mechanical, industrial, or practical art or trade, or agriculture, health, or business;
(3) Builds student competence in mathematics, science, and communications (including through applied academics) through a sequential course of study; and
(4) Leads to placement in employment.
To receive a grant under this program, a State board shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, as the Secretary prescribes. The State board may submit an application along with the State plan submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 403.30. The application must include a description of—
(a) The requirements for State board approval of funding of a local tech-prep education project, including—
(1) Whether the State board intends to make awards on a competitive basis or on the basis of a formula; and
(2) If a formula is to be used, a description of that formula;
(b) How the State board will perform the following:
(1) Approve applications based on their potential to create an effective tech-prep education program as described in § 406.3(b).
(2) Give special consideration to applicants that—
(i) Provide for effective employment placement activities or transfer of students to four-year baccalaureate degree programs;
(ii) Are developed in consultation with business, industry, labor unions, and institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees; and
(iii) Address effectively the issues of dropout prevention and re-entry and the needs of minority youth of limited English proficiency, youth with disabilities, and disadvantaged youth;
(3) Ensure an equitable distribution of assistance between urban and rural consortium participants;
(c) How the State board will ensure that local recipients meet the requirements of this program; and
(d) How activities under this program will be coordinated with other tech-prep education programs, services, and
The Secretary determines the amount of each State's allotment according to a formula in section 101(a)(2) of the Act.
(a)(1) If the Secretary determines that any amount of a State's allotment under § 406.20 will not be required for any fiscal year for carrying out the program under this part, the Secretary reallots those funds to one or more States that demonstrate a current need for additional funds and the ability to use them promptly and effectively upon reallotment.
(2) The Secretary announces in the
(b)(1) No funds reallotted under paragraph (a) of this section may be used for any purpose other than the purposes for which they were appropriated.
(2) Any amount reallotted to a State under paragraph (a) of this section remains available for obligation during the succeeding fiscal year and is deemed to be part of the State's allotment for the fiscal year in which the reallotted funds are obligated.
(a) A State board shall provide subgrants or contracts to consortia between—
(1) A local educational agency, intermediate educational agency, area vocational education school serving secondary school students, or secondary school funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
(2) A nonprofit institution of higher education that—
(i) Is qualified as an institution of higher education as defined in § 406.5, including institutions receiving assistance under the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801
(ii) Is not prohibited from receiving assistance under part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 pursuant to the provisions of section 435(a)(3) of that Act; and
(iii) Offers a two-year associate degree program, a two-year certificate program, or a two-year apprenticeship training program that follows secondary instruction; or
(3) A proprietary institution of higher education that—
(i) Is qualified as an institution of higher education as defined in § 406.5;
(ii) Is not subject to a default management plan required by the Secretary; and
(iii) Offers a two-year associate degree program.
(b) A consortia must include at least one entity from paragraph (a)(1) of this section and at least one entity from either paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section, and may include more than one entity from each group.
(a) A State board carries out the program by—
(1) Providing State administration of its grant; and
(2) Awarding subgrants or contracts to eligible consortia on a competitive
(b) A State board may use funds reserved under 34 CFR 403.180(b)(3) to provide support for the State-administered Tech-Prep Education Program.
(c) A State board may use no more than the amount of funds from its award under this part that is necessary and reasonable for—
(1) The proper and efficient administration of this program; and
(2) Technical assistance to promote or enhance the quality and effectiveness of the State's tech-prep education program.
(a) Each consortium that desires to receive an award shall submit an application to the State board.
(b) The application must be submitted at the time and contain the information prescribed by the State board, and must contain—
(1) An articulation agreement between the participants in the consortium; and
(2) A three-year plan for the development and implementation of activities under this part.
The State board shall, in conjunction with recipients of subgrants and contracts, with respect to assistance received under this part, submit to the Secretary reports as may be required by the Secretary to ensure that grantees are complying with the requirements of this part.