§2302 Definitions

Summary

Defines many words used in the chapter about career and technical education so people know what the rules mean. It gives short meanings for terms used across the law. Administration — activities needed to run an eligible agency or recipient, including supervision, but not making curriculum, staff training, or research. All aspects of an industry — strong, broad experience and understanding of the industry a person is preparing to enter. Area career and technical education school — a public secondary or postsecondary school or department that mainly provides career and technical programs and, in some cases, must offer not fewer than 3 different fields and admit students who finished or left secondary school. Articulation agreement — a written, state-approved promise between two schools to give a nonduplicative course sequence and allow credit transfer. Career and technical education — organized course sequences that mix rigorous academics and technical skills, may lead to credentials or degrees, include work-based or applied learning, coordinate secondary and postsecondary programs, and can include career exploration starting in middle grades. Career and technical student organization — a student group that is part of CTE instruction and may have State and national units. Career guidance and academic counseling — help and information about careers, education options, financial aid, work-based learning, and support services, including extra help for special populations. Career pathways, charter school, dual or concurrent enrollment, early college high school, educational service agency, evidence-based, in-demand industry sector or occupation, industry or sector partnership, institution of higher education, local educational agency, out-of-school youth, recognized postsecondary credential, secondary school, specialized instructional support personnel and services, universal design for learning — defined elsewhere in the law. Cooperative education — planned, supervised alternating study and work arranged between a school and employers, which may alternate half days, full days, weeks, or other periods. Credit transfer agreement — a formal agreement that lets students earn transcripted postsecondary credit, including dual enrollment or credit by assessment. CTE concentrator — at the secondary level, a student who completed at least 2 courses in one CTE program; at the postsecondary level, a student who earned at least 12 credits in a CTE program or completed the program if it has fewer than 12 credits. CTE participant — a student who completed at least one CTE course. Director — the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences. Eligible agency — the State board named by law to run or supervise career and technical education in the State. Eligible entity — a consortium that must include representatives from at least 2 listed categories (one acting as fiscal agent), plus business or industry partners and other community stakeholders. Eligible institution — types of public or nonprofit colleges, area CTE schools, tribal schools, tribally controlled colleges, or educational service agencies that can use grant funds for CTE leading to technical skill proficiency or recognized credentials; for one grant purpose the recognized credential does not include a baccalaureate degree. Eligible recipient — local education agencies, area CTE schools, educational service agencies, Indian tribes or organizations, or eligible institutions or their consortia that can get federal CTE funds. English learner — a secondary student defined elsewhere as an English learner, or an adult or out-of-school youth with limited English who speaks another native language or lives where another language is dominant. Governor — the chief executive officer of a State. High school, paraprofessional, tribally controlled college or university, tribal organization, and other specific terms — defined elsewhere or in other statutes. Non-traditional fields — jobs where one gender makes up less than 25 percent of workers. Outlying area — United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Out-of-workforce individual — a displaced homemaker or someone who mainly worked unpaid caring for family, or a parent whose youngest dependent will lose certain benefits not later than 2 years after the parent applies, who is unemployed or underemployed and struggling to find or upgrade work. Pay for success initiative — a performance-based public grant or contract that pays only when agreed outcomes are met and must include a feasibility study, a rigorous third-party evaluation, an annual public report, and other requirements; it cannot reduce special education services or legal rights under laws for people with disabilities. Postsecondary educational institution — a college that offers at least a 2-year program acceptable for bachelor’s credit, a tribally controlled college, or a nonprofit school offering postsecondary certificates or skilled training. Professional development — sustained, job-embedded, collaborative training for educators (not stand-alone one-day workshops) that improves teaching knowledge and skills, can be evidence-based, and includes many listed supports. Program of study — a coordinated, nonduplicative sequence of academic and technical courses aligned with State standards and industry needs, that gets more specific over time, has multiple entry and exit points with credentialing, and leads to a recognized postsecondary credential. Qualified intermediary — a nonprofit that helps build and run partnerships among employers, schools, colleges, community groups, and workforce systems to connect students to internships, professional development, and supports. Special populations — includes individuals with disabilities; those from low-income families; people preparing for non-traditional fields; single parents (including pregnant women); out-of-workforce individuals; English learners; homeless individuals; youth in or aged out of foster care; and youth with a parent on active military duty. Support services — services like changes to curriculum, equipment, classrooms, staff, and instructional aids to help students. Tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institution — a tribally controlled higher education institution that offers technical degrees or certificates, is governed mostly by Indians, supports tribal economic goals, has operated for at least 3 years, holds or seeks national accreditation, and enrolls the equivalent of not less than 100 full-time students with a majority who are Indians. Work-based learning — sustained, real or simulated workplace experiences with industry professionals that align with curriculum and teach real career tasks.