411.3—What activities may the Secretary fund?
The Secretary may directly, or through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, conduct applied research on aspects of vocational education that are specially related to the Act, including the following:
(1)
Effective methods for providing quality vocational education to individuals with disabilities, disadvantaged individuals, men and women in nontraditional fields, adults, single parents, displaced homemakers, single pregnant women, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals who are incarcerated in correctional institutions;
(2)
The development and implementation of performance standards and measures that fit within the needs of State boards of vocational education or eligible recipients as defined in 34 CFR 400.4 in carrying out the provisions of the Act and on the relationship of those standards and measures to the data system established under section 421 of the Act. Research may include an evaluation of existing performance standards and measures and dissemination of that information to State boards of vocational education and eligible recipients;
(3)
Strategies for coordinating local, State, and Federal vocational education, employment training, and economic development programs to maximize their efficacy and for improving worker training and retraining;
(5)
Successful methods of reinforcing and enhancing basic and more advanced academic and problem-solving skills in vocational settings;
(6)
Successful methods for providing students, to the maximum extent practicable, with experience in and understanding of all aspects of the industry those students are preparing to enter; and
(7)
The development of effective methods for providing quality vocational education to individuals with limited English proficiency, including research related to bilingual vocational training.
(b)
An evaluation of the use of performance standards and measures under the Act and the effect of those standards and measures on the participation of students in vocational education programs and on the outcomes of students in those programs, especially students who are members of special populations as defined in 34 CFR 400.4.