National Advisory Council on Vocational Education Policy Statement on Reauthorization of the Vocational Education Act.

Overview & Synopsis

The National Council on Vocational Education believes that the new Vocational Education Act should focus on the development of the human capital that is essential to any efforts to revitalize our nation's productivity. This will require program improvement for training and retraining in new high-technology occupations, access to programs by disadvantaged and other persons who need skill training to qualify for unsubsidized jobs, and collaborative ventures among vocational education, other education and training programs, and the private sector. Reauthorization of the Vocational Education Act should concentrate on six areas: (1) areas of high unemployment; (2) emerging occupations in high demand areas; (3) economic development and training; (4) handicapped; (5) defense needs; and (6) correctional education. National and state occupational information coordinating committees and the National Center for Research in Vocational Education should be continued. It is also recommended that more flexibility in funding and regulations be established; that fund distribution should combat past inequities; that incentive funds should encourage innovative linkages between vocational education and other education and training programs; that sex equity should receive continuing emphasis; and that national, state, and local advisory councils should be mandated and their independence strengthened. (KC)