Archived: Office of Vocational and Adult Education

A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Achieving the Goals--Goal 5 - First in the World in Math and Science Technology Resources - November 1996

Office of Vocational and Adult Education

The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (PL 101-392)

Under this act, federal funds are made available to help provide vocational technical education programs and services to youth and adults. The vast majority of funds appropriated under the Perkins Act are awarded as grants to state education agencies. These State Basic Grants are allotted to states according to a formula based on states' populations in certain age groups and their per capita income.

Only State Boards for Vocational Education are eligible to apply for State Basic Grants. The distribution of grant funds within a state is directed to priority items established by the state in accordance with an approved state plan for vocational-technical education. Local education agencies and postsecondary institutions are eligible recipients for subgrants.

According to the National Assessment of Vocational Education study, the most frequent uses of funds included: occupationally relevant equipment, vocational curriculum materials, materials for learning labs, curriculum development or modification, staff development, career guidance and counseling activities, efforts for academic-vocational integration, supplemental services for special populations, hiring vocational staff, remedial classes, and expansion of Tech Prep programs.

Vocational technical education is changing. Specifically, it now uses more and higher technology and incorporates more of school-based and work-based learning. Vocational education personnel and program participants also have access to computerized occupational information to make program decisions and career choices.

Division of High Schools, Postsecondary and Career Education
U.S. Department of Education
330 C Street, SW, Room 4321
Washington, DC 20202
(202) 205-9444

National Vocational Education Research

The Office of Vocational and Adult Education's National Activities are designed to stimulate change and improvement in Career and Technical Education. The goals of the Department and of OVAE are supported through targeted investments in research, evaluation, program development, technical assistance, and dissemination.

Our Priorities:

Building a stronger consensus about how career and technical education can contribute to improved high school academic achievement and more effective career preparation and lifelong learning at the postsecondary level.
Learning from States, school districts and community colleges across the country that have made significant progress in turning their own schools around by raising student achievement, and closing the achievement gap.
Promoting the tremendous potential and capacity of community colleges to prepare our workforce with the knowledge and skills needed for personal success and to ensure our Nation's economic prosperity.
Supporting rigorous studies in partnership with other national offices, departments and agencies to identify effective strategies and to document what works.
Actively sharing and disseminating those findings among communities of practice.

Selected National Activities for 2002:

National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education
National Assessment of Vocational Education
Studies of High School course taking and transitions to College and Work.

Research and Evaluation Staff
Office of Vocational and Adult Education
U.S. Department of Education
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202-7242
(202) 205-9650
e-mail: jackie.friederich@ed.gov or pariece.wilkins@ed.gov

Vocational Education Basic Grants to States

This formula grant program provides funds to make the United States more competitive in the world economy by developing more fully the academic and occupational skills of all segments of the population. This is to be achieved principally through concentrating resources for improving educational programs leading to the academic and occupational skills needed to work in a technologically advanced society.

Richard DiCola
Division of Vocational-Technical Education
Office of Vocational and Adult Education
U.S. Department of Education
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202-7323
(202) 205-9441
e-mail: richard.dicola@ed.gov
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