638.600—Applied vocational skills training (VST) through work projects.
(a)
(1)
The Job Corps Director shall establish procedures for administering applied vocational skills training (VST) projects; such procedures shall include funding and reporting requirements, criteria to be used for granting approvals, and reviewing requirements.
(2)
Each applied VST project shall be submitted to the Regional Director for approval. The annual applied VST plan described in paragraph (c) of this section shall be submitted to the Regional Director for approval.
(b)
Applied VST may be provided in an actual working setting for training students in the construction and related trades. This shall involve authorized construction or other projects that result in finished facilities or products. This shall include conservation projects on Federal, State, and public lands, and projects performed for other organizations in accordance with policies established by the Job Corps Director. Centers may also perform applied VST public service projects for nearby communities and capital improvements for other Job Corps centers.
(c)
Applied VST shall be the major vehicle for the training of students in the construction and related trades. In each year, each center operator shall develop an annual applied VST plan for the coming year. In order to ensure that maximum training opportunities are available to students, the center vocational instructor (and/or the national training contractor, when applicable) shall participate in the planning and shall approve each project which involves his/her particular trade. Applied VST projects shall be planned in such a manner as to give priority to on-center rehabilitation and construction needs. The Job Corps Director shall establish annual funding levels to support applied VST programs and shall establish specific policies on limitation, documentation, and reporting requirements relating to applied VST programs.