,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dghb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #cj1 #bjad ,mr4 ,schrader 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,langevin1 ,mr4 ,carson of ,indiana1 ,mr4 ,heck of ,washington1 and ,mr4 ,veasey7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to establish a pilot grant program to support career and technical education exploration programs in middle schools and high schools4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,building ,understanding1 ,investment1 ,learning1 and ,direction ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjad or the ,,build ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in career and technical education programs is #ia4h percent4 7#b7 ,career and technical education concentrators improved their #abth grade ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress scores by #h points in reading and #aa in mathematics1 while students who took no career and technical education courses did not increase their mathematics scores and only increased reading by #d points4 7#c7 ,students at schools with highly integrated rigorous academic and career and technical education programs have significantly higher achievement in reading1 mathematics1 and science than do students at schools with less integrated programs4 7#d7 ,four out of #e graduates of secondary-level career or technical education programs who pursued postsecondary education after secondary school had earned a credential or were still enrolled in postsecondary education #b years later4 7#e7 ,students who have participated in skills-training programs see increased wages and earnings1 have a higher probability and consistency of employment1 and work in higher-quality jobs4 #c4 ,pilot grant program to support career and technical education exploration program in middle schools and high schools 7a7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are the following3 7#a7 ,to provide students with opportunities to participate in career and technical education exploration programs and to provide information on available career and technical education programs and their impact on college and career readiness4 7#b7 ,to expand professional growth of1 and career opportunities for1 students through career and technical education exploration programs4 7#c7 ,to enhance collaboration between education providers and employers4 7#d7 ,to develop or enhance career and technical education exploration programs with ties to a career and technical education program of study4 7#e7 ,to evaluate students' participation in coordinated middle school and high school career and technical education exploration programs4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,career and technical education exploration program ,the term career and technical education exploration program means a course or series of courses that provides experiential learning opportunities in #a or more programs of study 7including after school and during the summer71 as appropriate1 and the opportunity to connect experiential learning to education and career pathways that is offered to middle school students or high school students1 or both4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 7c7 ,authorization of grant program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award grants to local educational agencies to support career and technical education exploration programs4 7#b7 ,grant duration ,grants awarded under this ,act shall be #b years in duration4 7#c7 ,district capacity taken into account ,in awarding grants under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall take into account the resources and capacity of each local educational agency that applies for a grant4 7d7 ,applications ,a local educational agency that desires to receive a grant under this ,act shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,secretary may require4 7e7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall give priority to grant proposals that-- 7#a7 demonstrate-- 7,a7 that a partnership among the local educational agency and business1 industry1 labor1 or institutions of higher education1 where appropriate to the grant project1 exists and will participate in carrying out grant activities under this ,act2 7,b7 innovative and sustainable design2 7,c7 a curriculum aligned with ,state diploma requirements2 7,d7 a focus on preparing students1 including special populations and nontraditional students1 with opportunities to explore careers and skills required for jobs in their ,state and that provide high wages and are in demand2 7,e7 a method of evaluating success2 and 7,f7 that the programs to be assisted with grant funds are not receiving assistance under the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq472 and 7#b7 include an assurance that-- 7,a7 the local educational agency will fund the operational costs of the activities described in this ,act after the grant period expires2 and 7,b7 if the local educational agency charges a fee to participate in the after school and summer components of the career and technical education exploration program to be carried out by the agency1 the agency will implement such fee on a sliding scale according to income and established in a manner that makes participation financially feasible for all students4 7f7 ,uses of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,a local educational agency that receives a grant under this ,act shall use the grant funds to carry out any of the following3 7,a7 ,leasing1 purchasing1 upgrading1 or adapting equipment related to the content of career and technical education exploration program activities4 7,b7 ,program director1 instructor1 or other staff expenses to coordinate or implement program activities4 7,c7 ,consultation services with a direct alignment to the program goals4 7,d7 ,support of professional development programs aligned to the program goals4 7,e7 ,minor remodeling1 if any1 necessary to accommodate new equipment obtained pursuant to subparagraph 7,a74 7,f7 ,evaluating the access to career and technical education exploration programs and the impact such programs have on the transition to career and technical programs of study 7as described in section #abb7;c77#a77;,a7 of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdb7;c77#a77;,a7771 or other postsecondary programs of study1 high school completion1 and the number of students who earn an industry-recognized credential1 associate's degree1 bachelor's degree1 or other career and technical education related postsecondary credit in addition to a high school diploma4 7#b7 ,use and ownership of materials or equipment ,any materials or equipment purchased with grant funds awarded under this ,act shall be the property of the local educational agency4 7#c7 ,administrative costs ,a local educational agency that receives a grant under this ,act may use not more than #e percent of the grant funds for administrative costs associated with carrying out activities under this ,act4 7g7 ,evaluations 7#a7 ,in general ,a local educational agency that receives a grant under this ,act shall develop an evaluation plan of grant activities that shall include an evaluation of specific outcomes1 described in paragraph 7#b71 and progress toward meeting such outcomes within the timeline of the grant that shall be measurable through collection of appropriate data or documented through other records4 ,such evaluation shall reflect the resources and capacity of the local educational agency4 7#b7 ,outcomes ,the specific outcomes shall clearly address the following areas3 7,a7 ,the extent of student participation in career and technical education exploration programs4 7,b7 ,improved rigor in technical or academic content aligned to diploma requirements and industry recognized technical standards4 7,c7 ,improved alignment between career and technical education and other courses1 including core academic subjects4 7,d7 ,the impact such programs have on the transition to career and technical programs of study 7as described in section #abb7;c77#a77;,a7 of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdb7;c77#a77;,a777 and other postsecondary programs of study4 7#c7 ,submission to the department ,a local educational agency that receives a grant under this ,act shall submit evaluations conducted under this subsection to the ,secretary4 7h7 ,supplement not supplant ,funds received under this ,act shall be used to supplement1 and not supplant1 funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this ,act4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #bj1jjj1jjj4