U.S. Code > Title 20 Education > CHAPTER 44—CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (§§ 2301—2414) > SUBCHAPTER I—CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE TO THE STATES (§§ 2321—2355) > Part C—Local Provisions (§§ 2351—2355) > § 2355. Local uses of funds

§ 2355. Local uses of funds

(a) General authority
Each eligible recipient that receives funds under this part shall use such funds to improve career and technical education programs.
(b) Requirements for uses of funds
Funds made available to eligible recipients under this part shall be used to support career and technical education programs that—
(1) strengthen the academic and career and technical skills of students participating in career and technical education programs, by strengthening the academic and career and technical education components of such programs through the integration of academics with career and technical education programs through a coherent sequence of courses, such as career and technical programs of study described in section 2342 (c)(1)(A) of this title, to ensure learning in—
(A) the core academic subjects (as defined in section 7801 of this title); and
(B) career and technical education subjects;
(2) link career and technical education at the secondary level and career and technical education at the postsecondary level, including by offering the relevant elements of not less than 1 career and technical program of study described in section 2342 (c)(1)(A) of this title;
(3) provide students with strong experience in and understanding of all aspects of an industry, which may include work-based learning experiences;
(4) develop, improve, or expand the use of technology in career and technical education, which may include—
(A) training of career and technical education teachers, faculty, and administrators to use technology, which may include distance learning;
(B) providing career and technical education students with the academic and career and technical skills (including the mathematics and science knowledge that provides a strong basis for such skills) that lead to entry into the technology fields; or
(C) encouraging schools to collaborate with technology industries to offer voluntary internships and mentoring programs, including programs that improve the mathematics and science knowledge of students;
(5) provide professional development programs that are consistent with section 2342 of this title to secondary and postsecondary teachers, faculty, administrators, and career guidance and academic counselors who are involved in integrated career and technical education programs, including—
(A) in-service and preservice training on—
(i) effective integration and use of challenging academic and career and technical education provided jointly with academic teachers to the extent practicable;
(ii) effective teaching skills based on research that includes promising practices;
(iii) effective practices to improve parental and community involvement; and
(iv) effective use of scientifically based research and data to improve instruction;
(B) support of education programs for teachers of career and technical education in public schools and other public school personnel who are involved in the direct delivery of educational services to career and technical education students, to ensure that such teachers and personnel stay current with all aspects of an industry;
(C) internship programs that provide relevant business experience; and
(D) programs designed to train teachers specifically in the effective use and application of technology to improve instruction;
(6) develop and implement evaluations of the career and technical education programs carried out with funds under this subchapter, including an assessment of how the needs of special populations are being met;
(7) initiate, improve, expand, and modernize quality career and technical education programs, including relevant technology;
(8) provide services and activities that are of sufficient size, scope, and quality to be effective; and
(9) provide activities to prepare special populations, including single parents and displaced homemakers who are enrolled in career and technical education programs, for high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations that will lead to self-sufficiency.
(c) Permissive
Funds made available to an eligible recipient under this subchapter may be used—
(1) to involve parents, businesses, and labor organizations as appropriate, in the design, implementation, and evaluation of career and technical education programs authorized under this subchapter, including establishing effective programs and procedures to enable informed and effective participation in such programs;
(2) to provide career guidance and academic counseling, which may include information described in section 2328 of this title, for students participating in career and technical education programs, that—
(A) improves graduation rates and provides information on postsecondary and career options, including baccalaureate degree programs, for secondary students, which activities may include the use of graduation and career plans; and
(B) provides assistance for postsecondary students, including for adult students who are changing careers or updating skills;
(3) for local education and business (including small business) partnerships, including for—
(A) work-related experiences for students, such as internships, cooperative education, school-based enterprises, entrepreneurship, and job shadowing that are related to career and technical education programs;
(B) adjunct faculty arrangements for qualified industry professionals; and
(C) industry experience for teachers and faculty;
(4) to provide programs for special populations;
(5) to assist career and technical student organizations;
(6) for mentoring and support services;
(7) for leasing, purchasing, upgrading or adapting equipment, including instructional aids and publications (including support for library resources) designed to strengthen and support academic and technical skill achievement;
(8) for teacher preparation programs that address the integration of academic and career and technical education and that assist individuals who are interested in becoming career and technical education teachers and faculty, including individuals with experience in business and industry;
(9) to develop and expand postsecondary program offerings at times and in formats that are accessible for students, including working students, including through the use of distance education;
(10) to develop initiatives that facilitate the transition of subbaccalaureate career and technical education students into baccalaureate degree programs, including—
(A) articulation agreements between sub-baccalaureate degree granting career and technical education postsecondary educational institutions and baccalaureate degree granting postsecondary educational institutions;
(B) postsecondary dual and concurrent enrollment programs;
(C) academic and financial aid counseling for sub-baccalaureate career and technical education students that informs the students of the opportunities for pursuing a baccalaureate degree and advises the students on how to meet any transfer requirements; and
(D) other initiatives—
(i) to encourage the pursuit of a baccalaureate degree; and
(ii) to overcome barriers to enrollment in and completion of baccalaureate degree programs, including geographic and other barriers affecting rural students and special populations;
(11) to provide activities to support entrepreneurship education and training;
(12) for improving or developing new career and technical education courses, including the development of new proposed career and technical programs of study for consideration by the eligible agency and courses that prepare individuals academically and technically for high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations and dual or concurrent enrollment opportunities by which career and technical education students at the secondary level could obtain postsecondary credit to count towards an associate or baccalaureate degree;
(13) to develop and support small, personalized career-themed learning communities;
(14) to provide support for family and consumer sciences programs;
(15) to provide career and technical education programs for adults and school dropouts to complete the secondary school education, or upgrade the technical skills, of the adults and school dropouts;
(16) to provide assistance to individuals who have participated in services and activities under this chapter in continuing their education or training or finding an appropriate job, such as through referral to the system established under section 2841 of title 29;
(17) to support training and activities (such as mentoring and outreach) in non-traditional fields;
(18) to provide support for training programs in automotive technologies;
(19) to pool a portion of such funds with a portion of funds available to not less than 1 other eligible recipient for innovative initiatives, which may include—
(A) improving the initial preparation and professional development of career and technical education teachers, faculty, administrators, and counselors;
(B) establishing, enhancing, or supporting systems for—
(i) accountability data collection under this chapter; or
(ii) reporting data under this chapter;
(C) implementing career and technical programs of study described in section 2342 (c)(1)(A) of this title; or
(D) implementing technical assessments; and
(20) to support other career and technical education activities that are consistent with the purpose of this chapter.
(d) Administrative costs
Each eligible recipient receiving funds under this part shall not use more than 5 percent of the funds for administrative costs associated with the administration of activities assisted under this section.