§ 2324. National activities
(a)
Program performance information
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall collect performance information about, and report on, the condition of career and technical education and on the effectiveness of State and local programs, services, and activities carried out under this subchapter in order to provide the Secretary and Congress, as well as Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies, with information relevant to improvement in the quality and effectiveness of career and technical education. The Secretary shall report annually to Congress on the Secretary’s aggregate analysis of performance information collected each year pursuant to this subchapter, including an analysis of performance data regarding special populations.
(b)
Miscellaneous provisions
(1)
Collection of information at reasonable cost
The Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to secure at reasonable cost the information required by this subchapter. To ensure reasonable cost, the Secretary, in consultation with the National Center for Education Statistics, the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and an entity assisted under section
2328 of this title (if applicable), shall determine the methodology to be used and the frequency with which information is to be collected.
(c)
Single plan for research, development, dissemination, evaluation, and assessment
(1)
In general
The Secretary may, directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, carry out research, development, dissemination, evaluation and assessment, capacity building, and technical assistance with regard to the career and technical education programs under this chapter. The Secretary shall develop a single plan for such activities.
(d)
Advisory panel; evaluation; reports
(1)
Independent advisory panel
(A)
In general
The Secretary shall appoint an independent advisory panel to advise the Secretary on the implementation of the assessment described in paragraph (2), including the issues to be addressed and the methodology of the studies involved to ensure that the assessment adheres to the highest standards of quality.
(B)
Members
The advisory panel shall consist of—
(i)
educators, administrators, State directors of career and technical education, and chief executives, including those with expertise in the integration of academic and career and technical education;
(2)
Evaluation and assessment
(A)
In general
From amounts made available under subsection (e), the Secretary shall provide for the conduct of an independent evaluation and assessment of career and technical education programs under this chapter, including the implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, to the extent practicable, through studies and analyses conducted independently through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements that are awarded on a competitive basis.
(B)
Contents
The assessment required under subparagraph (A) shall include descriptions and evaluations of—
(i)
the extent to which State, local, and tribal entities have developed, implemented, or improved State and local career and technical education programs assisted under this chapter;
(ii)
the preparation and qualifications of teachers and faculty of career and technical education (such as meeting State established teacher certification or licensing requirements), as well as shortages of such teachers and faculty;
(iii)
academic and career and technical education achievement and employment outcomes of career and technical education, including analyses of—
(I)
the extent and success of the integration of rigorous and challenging academic and career and technical education for students participating in career and technical education programs, including a review of the effect of such integration on the academic and technical proficiency achievement of such students (including the number of such students receiving a secondary school diploma); and
(iv)
employer involvement in, and satisfaction with, career and technical education programs and career and technical education students’ preparation for employment;
(vi)
the use of educational technology and distance learning with respect to career and technical education and tech prep programs; and
(vii)
the effect of State and local adjusted levels of performance and State and local levels of performance on the delivery of career and technical education services, including the percentage of career and technical education and tech prep students meeting the adjusted levels of performance described in section
2323 of this title.
(C)
Reports
(ii)
Prohibition
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the reports required by this subsection shall not be subject to any review outside the Department of Education before their transmittal to the relevant committees of Congress and the Secretary, but the President, the Secretary, and the independent advisory panel established under paragraph (1) may make such additional recommendations to Congress with respect to the assessment as the President, the Secretary, or the panel determine to be appropriate.
(4)
Research
(A)
In general
From amounts made available under subsection (e), the Secretary, after consulting with the States, shall award a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, on a competitive basis, to an institution of higher education, a public or private nonprofit organization or agency, or a consortium of such institutions, organizations, or agencies to establish a national research center—
(i)
to carry out scientifically based research and evaluation for the purpose of developing, improving, and identifying the most successful methods for addressing the education, employment, and training needs of participants, including special populations, in career and technical education programs, including research and evaluation in such activities as—
(II)
education technology and distance learning approaches and strategies that are effective with respect to career and technical education;
(III)
State adjusted levels of performance and State levels of performance that serve to improve career and technical education programs and student achievement;
(IV)
academic knowledge and career and technical skills required for employment or participation in postsecondary education; and
(ii)
to carry out scientifically based research and evaluation to increase the effectiveness and improve the implementation of career and technical education programs that are integrated with coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards, including conducting research and development, and studies, that provide longitudinal information or formative evaluation with respect to career and technical education programs and student achievement;
(iii)
to carry out scientifically based research and evaluation that can be used to improve the preparation and professional development of teachers, faculty, and administrators, and to improve student learning in the career and technical education classroom, including—
(I)
effective in-service and preservice teacher and faculty education that assists career and technical education programs in—
(5)
Demonstrations and dissemination
The Secretary is authorized to carry out demonstration career and technical education programs, to replicate model career and technical education programs, to disseminate best practices information, and to provide technical assistance upon request of a State, for the purposes of developing, improving, and identifying the most successful methods and techniques for providing career and technical education programs assisted under this chapter.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.