Carl Perkins Act of 1990: Program Evaluations

Carl D. Perkins Career and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990

SEC. 115 - State and Local Standards and Measures

1. GENERAL AUTHORITY. Each State board receiving funds under this Act shall develop and implement a statewide system of core standards and measures of performance for secondary and postsecondary career education programs.
2. REQUIREMENTS. Each system developed under subsection (a) shall include:
   1. measures of learning and competency gains, including student progress in the achievement of basic and more advanced academic skills;
   2. one or more measures of performance, which shall include only:
      1. competency attainment;
      2. job or work skill attainment or enhancement including student progress in achieving occupational skills necessary to obtain employment in the field for which the student has been prepared, including occupational skills in the industry the student is preparing to enter;
      3. retention in school or completion of secondary school or its equivalent; and
      4. placement into additional training or education, military service, or employment;
   3. incentives or adjustments that are:
      1. designed to encourage service to targeted groups or special populations; and
      2. for each student, consistent with the student's individualized education program developed under section 614(a)(5) of the Education of the Handicapped Act, where appropriate; and
   4. procedures for using existing resources and methods developed in other programs receiving Federal assistance.

SEC. 117 - Program Evaluation and Improvement

1. ANNUAL EVALUATION. Each recipient of financial assistance under part C of title II shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of the program conducted with assistance under this Act based on the standards and measures (or modifications thereto) developed as required by section 115. As part of each such evaluation, each such recipient shall:
   1. review programs, with the full and informed participation of representatives of individuals who are members of special populations, to:
      1. identify and adopt strategies to overcome any barriers which are resulting in lower rates of access to career education programs or success in such programs for individuals who are members of special populations; and
      2. evaluate the progress of individuals who are members of special populations in career education programs assisted under this Act; and
   2. evaluate the progress of career education programs assisted under this Act in providing career education students with strong experience in and understanding of all aspects of the industry the students are preparing to enter.
2. LOCAL PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT PLAN. Beginning not less than 1 year after the implementation of the provisions of section 115, if any recipient described in subsection (a) determines that the recipient is not making substantial progress in meeting the standards and measures developed as required by section 115, such recipient shall develop a plan, in consultation with teachers, parents, and students concerned, for program improvement for the succeeding school year. Such plan shall describe how the recipient will identify and modify programs funded under part C of title II, including:
   1. a description of career education and career development strategies designed to achieve progress in improving the effectiveness of the program conducted with assistance under this Act; and
   2. if necessary, a description of strategies designed to improve supplementary services provided to individuals who are members of special populations.
3. STATE AND LOCAL JOINT PLAN. If, after 1 year of implementation of the plan described in subsection (b), sufficient progress in meeting the standards and measures developed as required by section 115 has not been made, the State shall work jointly with the recipient and teachers, parents, and students concerned to develop a plan for program improvement. Each such plan shall contain:
   1. a description of the technical assistance and program activities the State will provide to enhance the performance of the eligible recipient;
   2. a reasonable timetable to improve the school performance under the plan;
   3. a description of career education strategies designed to improve the performance of the program as measured by the evaluation; and
   4. if necessary, a description of strategies designed to improve supplementary services provided to individuals who are members of special populations.
4. FURTHER ACTION. The State shall, in conjunction with the eligible recipient, annually review and revise the joint plan developed under subsection (c) in order to improve performance and will continue to do so each consecutive year until the recipient sustains, for more than 1 year, fulfillment of the State and local standards and measures developed under section 115.

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