THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:

EMSC-VESID Committee

FROM:

Jean C. Stevens

SUBJECT:

Career and Technical Education Interim State Plan

DATE:

March 1, 2007

 

STRATEGIC GOAL:

Goals 1 and 2

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision

 

Should the Board of Regents approve the career and technical education interim state plan as required under the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

Required by federal statute.
         
Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the Regents EMSC-VESID Committee for approval on March 19, 2007.

 

Procedural History

 

The career and technical education interim state plan was submitted to the Regents for approval in February.  Action was postponed pending clarification of the relationships between career and technical education programs approved under the Regents policy and Tech Prep programs funded by Title II of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act.  This information has been provided to the Regents in a separate document.  In February, the Regents also raised concern about the proposal to merge Title I and Title II funding.  After further consultation with the field and among Department staff, we have determined to maintain Title II funds separately with a one-year Request for Proposal issued to transition current Tech Prep providers into the new career pathways approach.  Tech Prep programs will be renamed as Career Pathways programs.  A subsequent five-year RFP will be issued to support activities in the broader career and technical education initiative.

 

Background Information

 

          New York State receives approximately $60 million in federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act funds annually.  Eighty-five percent is distributed by formula to eligible school districts, BOCES and postsecondary institutions.  Fifteen percent is used for administration and statewide initiatives to support CTE program improvements.  These monies support activities for more than 201,000 secondary and 268,000 postsecondary students.  Last August, the Act was renewed by Congress through the year 2013.

 

          Renewal of the legislation provides New York State with a unique opportunity to continue upgrading career and technical education programs and to make them a key initiative in implementation of the Regents P-16 reform strategy.  CTE can be a significant tool for at least three of the thirteen goals.  CTE can improve high school attendance and graduation rates; it can assist in helping students transition and persist in postsecondary programs; and it is a necessary component in raising learning standards to exceed global standards.

 

          The Office of Curriculum and Instruction Support in EMSC and the Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs in Higher Education co-administer Perkins funding and are collaborating in developing the interim and final state plan for these funds that will assist local education agencies and postsecondary institutions in implementing actions included in the P-16 reform strategy.

 

          The Department must submit to the U.S. Department of Education an interim state plan for 2007-2008 in April 2007, and a final, five-year plan for the 2008-2009 year and beyond in early 2008.  The draft final plan will be disseminated for public comment in fall 2007 and will be subsequently submitted to the Regents for approval.  Since the Board of Regents is the governing board for career and technical education in New York State, your approval is required for both the interim and final plan. 

 

          The design of the state plan for CTE for the years 2007 through 2013 contains the following elements:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          The Perkins Act has evolved with each reauthorization.  Previous legislation emphasized funding support for improving the academic and technical performance of CTE students, particularly those students who reflect special population status.  The newest version of the Perkins Act retains its prior funding emphasis, but now adds the priority of preparing students for emerging and demanding careers.  As part of this focus, the new legislation expects that states will engage the education system and the business community in discussions of how to best prepare students for a global economy.  The theme of the new Perkins legislation coincides with the Regents P-16 reform strategy, presenting a timely opportunity for the Board of Regents to challenge the CTE education community in New York to respond.  

 

Recommendation

 

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approve the July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 career and technical education interim state plan outline and direct staff to complete the interim state plan for submission to the U.S. Department of Education as required under the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

Upon approval of the Board of Regents, Department staff will complete the interim state plan and submit it to the U.S. Department of Education in April 2007. The interim state plan will be in effect from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.  The final state plan for 2007-2013 will be submitted to the Regents for approval in early 2008.