A bill to assist States and secondary and postsecondary schools to develop, implement, and improve career preparation education so that every student has an opportunity to acquire academic and technical knowledge and skills needed for postsecondary education, further learning, and a wide range of opportunities in high-skill, high-wage careers, and for other purposes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Amendments to the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and

Applied Technology Education Act

Title II: Effective Dates; Transition

Title III: Amendments to Other Acts

Career Preparation Education Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Amendments to the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act - Amends the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act to: (1) rename it the Carl D. Perkins Career Preparation Education Act (the Act); (2) revise it; and (3) extend the authorization of appropriations through FY 2002.

(Sec. 101) Provides that, under the Act, career preparation education programs, services, and activities are those that: (1) support the development, implementation, or improvement of State School-to-Work systems, as set forth in title I of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994; or (2) otherwise prepare students for employment and further learning in technical fields.

Replaces the current title I, Vocational Education Assistance to the States, with a new title I, Preparing Students for Careers.

Sets forth a new title I, part A, Career Preparation Education. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to States (which will make subgrants to localities) for career preparation, programs, services, and activities. Sets forth requirements for such career preparation education programs and priorities, State leadership activities, State plans, local activities, local applications, performance goals and indicators, evaluation, improvement, and accountability, allotments, and within-State allocation and distribution of funds.

Revises, under a new title I part B, program elements for Tech-Prep Education (currently under title III part E). Revises requirements for State grants for tech-prep education programs, eliminating discretionary Federal grants for such programs. Sets forth requirements for State leadership activities and plans, local activities and consortia applications, program evaluation, and allotment and distribution of funds.

Replaces the current title II, Basic Grants for Vocational Education, with a new title II, National Support for State and Local Reforms (which revises some of the current title IV, National Programs).

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) make awards for excellence to States; (2) carry on certain national research, development, dissemination, evaluation, capacity-building, and technical assistance activities; (3) support professional development activities for educators; and (4) establish one of more national centers in the areas of applied research and development and of dissemination and training. Directs the Secretary to carry out certain activities related to: (1) national assessment; and (2) data systems. Continues the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee. Provides for reservation of funds for career preparation education for Indians and Native Hawaiians.

Replaces the current title III, Special Programs, with a title III, General Provisions (currently title V). (Eliminates all such special programs, except Tech-Prep Education which is transferred to title I, part B.)

Title II: Effective Dates; Transition - Sets forth effective date and transition provisions.

Title III: Amendments to Other Acts - Amends the following Acts with respect to references to the Act and to the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994: the Job Training Partnership Act, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Displaced Homemakers Self-Sufficiency Assistance Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, the Equity in Educational Land-Grant States Act of 1994, the Nontraditional Employment for Women Act, and the Training Technology Transfer Act of 1988.