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

The Emergence of Tech-Prep at the State and Local Levels - 1995

II. The State Role In Promoting Development Of Tech-Prep

The allocation of funds for local consortia through the state public vocational education systems guarantees state agencies a role in Tech-Prep. States are required to designate a "sole state agency" to administer grants appropriated through the Perkins Act, including those specifically targeted for Tech-Prep. The sole state agency--generally headed by the state director for vocational technical education--may also establish programmatic guidelines on use of grant funds, collect data on consortium programs, and monitor compliance with federal regulations. The state agencies may also provide technical assistance to Tech-Prep programs, if they choose, or supplement federal Tech-Prep funding with special state dollars. The agencies may share responsibility for Tech-Prep activities with other state agencies or may direct those agencies to take the lead in developing Tech-Prep locally.

This chapter analyzes five aspects of state-level Tech-Prep activities. First, we examine the agencies involved and the resources they contribute. Second, we describe the patterns of Title IIIE funding awarded by state agencies to local consortia, and of other sources of funding for state Tech-Prep activities.¹ Third, we discuss state efforts to define Tech-Prep and its objectives. Fourth, we describe technical assistance provided by state agencies to local consortia and state evaluation of the progress of these consortia. Finally, we report on state coordinators' perceptions of Tech-Prep progress and implementation issues.

¹ In most questions on funding we a sked for information about both fiscal year (FY) 1993 and FY 1994; to simplify t he question in a few cases, we asked about FY 1994 only.

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[Outline Of The Report]

[State Agencies Involved in Promoting and Funding Tech-Prep]