Vocational Education Amendments

Vocational Education Amendments - Declares the purposes of this Act in revising the Vocational Education Act of 1963. Provides that any State desiring to participate in the program authorized by this Act shall fulfill specified administrative requirements, including designating a State board as the sole agency for administration of a State plan for vocational education.

Directs the Commissioner of Education to assure that adequate staffing is available to the Bureau of Occupational and Adult Education to make certain that the Bureau's responsibilities are accomplished. Enumerates such responsibilities, including to provide leadership to assist State vocational education agencies to expand and improve their programs.

Requires that the President appoint, during 1978, a Panel of Consultants on Vocational Education to review the administration of vocational education programs.

Establishes a National Advisory Council on Vocational Education to perform specified functions, including to advise the President, Congress, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Commissioner concerning vocational education programs supported under this Act and the Higher Education Act. Authorizes to be appropriated to carry out these provisions $500,000 for each fiscal year.

Requires any State which desires to receive a grant under this Act to establish an independent State advisory council. Specifies the membership composition of such council. Authorizes to be appropriated to carry out these purposes $4,315,844 for each fiscal year.

Provides that a State board shall have the primary responsibility for preparing statewide plans for vocational education, and shall designate a planning group to prepare such plans.

Authorizes to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each fiscal year, from which the Commissioner shall make a grant to each participating State for purposes of preparing statewide plans.

Defines the terms used in this Act.

Declares that it is the purpose of this part of this Act to implement that portion to the career education concept in which vocational education plays an important role. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1980 for carrying out such purpose and directs the Secretary to make grants to each State which has approved administrative arrangements for prevocational education programs. Enumerates the purposes for which such grants may be used.

Authorizes appropriations for vocational education program support, providing for the allotment of such funds among the States.

Authorizes appropriations for vocational education program services and empowers the Secretary to make grants to each State from such funds for programs of: (1) teacher education; (2) placement and followup services; and (3) student support.

Directs the Commissioner to make available three-year leadership development grants to specified persons in order meet the need in all the States for qualified vocational education personnel with high potential to advance to policymaking and leadership positions.

Authorizes appropriations for such purposes.

Provides for grants for applied research, curriculum development, demonstration programs and leadership development. Authorizes appropriations for such programs.