Vocational-Technical Education Quality and Equity Act of 1984

Vocational-Technical Education Quality and Equity Act of 1984 - Sets forth national priorities which States are to be assisted in addressing under this Act. Lists national priorities under the following two headings: (1) improving the quality of vocational education to meet the needs of a changing economy and labor market; and (2) increasing equity in vocational education by expanding access to programs and providing services to students with specified educational needs.

Title I: State Administration, Planning, and Evaluation - Part A: State Administrative Responsibilities - Sets forth requirements relating to the functions of State boards of vocational education. Includes among State board responsibilities: (1) appointment of a State director of vocational education and other personnel to administer this Act; (2) convening and meeting at least four times annually; and (3) submitting the State plan to the State advisory council on vocational-technical education. Requires the State board to assign at least one full-time individual to assist it in specified ways. Directs each State to reserve a specified amount from its basic State grant for State board functions.

Sets forth requirements relating to State advisory councils on vocational-technical education. Limits membership of each council to 15, at least one-third of whom must be representatives of the private sector. Sets forth other membership representation requirements. Sets forth council functions and duties, including: (1) biennial evaluation of vocational education program delivery systems assisted under this Act and under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and of the adequacy and effectiveness of Federal, State, local, and private efforts to strengthen and improve vocational education in the State; and (2) reviewing and commenting on the State plan submitted by the State board. Directs the Secretary of Education, from sums appropriated for such State councils and allotted in a specified manner, to make grants to State councils to carry out their functions. Sets maximum and minimum limits on the amount of each such grant.

Part B: Planning and Applications - Sets forth requirements for three-year State plans, to be submitted to the Secretary.

Sets forth requirements for State applications for funds for each fiscal year under this Act.

Sets forth requirements for three-year local plans by eligible recipients, to be formulated with the assistance of local advisory councils and to be submitted to the State board.

Part C: Evaluation and Review - Sets forth requirements for State progress reports and State plan amendments.

Sets forth requirements for program evaluation by State boards with the assistance of the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to report every two years to the Congress on the status of vocational education in the Nation, including a summary of State program evaluations, with conclusions and recommendations.

Sets forth requirements for local progress and amendments to local plans.

Title II: State Programs - Authorizes the Secretary, from State allotments under title IV of this Act to make grants to assist States in funding vocational education programs, services, and activities carried out by State boards and eligible recipients.

Requires that such basic State grants be used, in accordance with approved State plans, to: (1) improve the quality of vocational education programs to meet the needs of the changing economy through strategies consistent with specified national priorities; and (2) provide equal access to, and benefit from, vocational education programs for underserved groups of individuals and groups of individuals with special needs through strategies consistent with specified national priorities. Limits the amount of the State allotment which may be transferred by a State: (1) to ten percent for such improvement purposes; and (2) to ten percent for such equal access purposes.

Sets forth the following authorized activities which may be included in carrying out required uses of funds pursuant to this title: (1) vocational education responsive to labor market demands or designed to keep abreast of technological changes, including high-technology industry-education partnership programs; (2) vocational education special programs and services for underserved and special needs populations (including adult workers in need of training and retraining, disadvantaged, handicapped, minorities, and women); (3) postsecondary and adult vocational education for out-of-school youth and adults in need of training or retraining, whether employed or unemployed; (4) strengthening the institutional base of vocational education by updating curricula, equipment, materials, planning, and staff skills; (5) assigning personnel to work with employers and eligible recipients to insure that programs are responsive to the labor market; (6) vocational education through arrangements with private vocational education institutions, employers, and community-based organizations; (7) design and implementation of planned sequential vocational programs between secondary and postsecondary education levels; (8) program and curricula design and instructor training to teach and apply principles of mathematics, science, written and verbal communications, and technology related to the students' occupational goals; (9) improving the qualifications of individuals serving or preparing to serve in vocational education programs; (10) prevocational and industrial arts programs; (11) vocational student organizational activities; (12) placement services; (13) entrepreneurship programs consistent with the purposes of this Act and the goals established in the State plan; (14) special vocational education programs and support services, including career education, counseling, and guidance, work-study, cooperative, on-site, and apprenticeship, overcoming sex bias and stereotyping, assisting minorities and exemplary and innovative demonstration programs; (15) construction, equipment, and operation of residential vocational-technical schools for students at least 15 years old who require a residential facility to benefit from vocational education; (16) construction of area vocational-technical school facilities; (17) day care services for students' children; (18) up to 50 percent of administrative and supervisory costs; (19) planning, evaluation, and reporting costs; and (20) consortia with other States. Prohibits the use of such funds for activities relating to residential vocational-technical schools, area vocational education schools, or day care services for students' children unless the State board determines that: (1) it would be impossible, without expenditures for such activities, to carry out the purposes of this Act and the goals described in the State plan; and (2) adequate funds are not available from other sources for such activities.

Title III: National Programs - Directs the Secretary to maintain a national vocational education data system. Requires States receiving assistance under this Act to cooperate in supplying information for such system. Directs the Secretary, in maintaining and annually updating such system, to make such system compatible with: (1) the occupational information data system established under this Act; (2) other systems developed or assisted under labor market information provisions under JTPA; and (3) other occupational supply and demand information systems developed or maintained through Federal assistance (directs the Secretary to cooperate with the Secretary of Labor in this ). Directs the Secretary to secure data about program enrollees and completers, placement and followup, staffing, and expenditures by major purposes of this Act.

Establishes a National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee consisting of specified Federal officials. Directs the Committee, with funds available under title I, to: (1) annually provide funds for and assist State occupational coordinating committees; (2) improve coordination among administrators and planners of programs authorized by this Act and JTPA, employment security agency administrators, researchers, and Federal, State, and local employment and training agency personnel; (3) develop and implement an occupational information system to meet common needs of vocational education and employment and training programs; and (4) study the effects of technological change on new and existing occupational areas and the required changes in knowledge and job skills.

Requires each State receiving assistance under this Act to establish a State occupational information coordinating committee composed of representatives of the State board, employment security agency, economic development agency, job training coordinating council, and agency for administering programs under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Directs the State committee, with funds from the national committee, to implement an occupational information system in the State designed to meet the needs of State board programs under this Act and administering agencies under JTPA.

Establishes the President's Commission on Vocational-Technical Education (the Commission) consisting of members appointed by the President, with a majority representing the private sector of the economy and the remainder with broad experience in education and economic and human resources development (at least one of whom is a member of the National Commission for Employment Policy established under JTPA). Directs the Commission to: (1) assess national needs with respect to occupations requiring less than a baccalaureate degree; (2) identify ways to encourage cooperation between the private sector of the economy and vocational-technical education; (3) evaluate program needs for updated equipment, curricula, competent staff, and other necessary components for student preparation and worker training and retraining for the workplace; (4) examine, and make recommendations regarding, the role of vocational education in the improvement of the secondary education system; (5) make appropriate recommendations; and (6) advise the President, Congress, and Secretary on the implementation of this Act, JTPA, and adequate policies for vocational-technical education programs. Directs the Commission to make a final report of its findings and recommendations to the President, Congress, and Secretary within two years after its first meeting. Authorizes the Commission to make interim reports and recommendations. Terminates the Commission 90 days after submission of its final report.

Provides that the National Center for Research in Vocational Education established under the Vocational Education Act of 1963 shall continue to be operated with funds made available under this Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) make an annual grant for the Center's operation; and (2) on the basis of solicited applications and the advice of non-Federal experts in vocational education administration and research, designate the entity to be the Center once every five years. Requires that the Center: (1) be a nonprofit entity associated with a public or private nonprofit university which has made, or is prepared to make, a substantial financial contribution towards its establishment; and (2) have a Director, appointed by such university and assisted by the advisory committee on research and program development.

Provides for a discretionary fund for the improvement of vocational education ("the Fund"). Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States, public and private nonprofit organizations, secondary and postsecondary education institutions, and other public and private educational institutions and agencies to improve vocational and technical education. Allows such grants to be used for: (1) industry-education partner-programs, technical education, and other high-technology training; (2) institutions and programs involving new paths to career and vocational training, and new combinations of academic and experimental learning with vocational education; (3) adult programs for dislocated workers, work force entry or reentry, or training, retraining, or upgrading skills; (4) access improvement for youth with special needs, including minorities, the economically or educationally disadvantaged, those lacking English proficiency, and the handicapped; (5) linkages between academic and vocational programs of secondary education; and (6) improvement of vocational education quality and equity through new and expanded curricula or advanced training for vocational administrators and instructors. Requires that any grant or contract under the Fund to an eligible recipient of funds under title II of this Act shall be submitted to the appropriate State board for review, comment, and recommendations to be forwarded to the Secretary. Provides that the advisory committee on research and program improvement established under this Act will advise the Secretary, and the Director of the Fund appointed by the Secretary, on the award of grants under the Fund.

Directs the Secretary to appoint an advisory committee on research and program improvement to advise: (1) the Secretary on selection and management of programs funded under this title; (2) the Secretary, the Director of the Center, and the Director of the Fund, with respect to policy issues in the administration of the Center and in the selection and conduct of research and demonstration projects and activities by the Center; and (3) advise the Fund. Sets forth provisions for advisory committee membership. Provides that members shall not be Federal employees. Requires the advisory committee to meet at least three times annually at the call of the Secretary, including at least one meeting at, and primarily concerned with, the Center.

Title IV: General Provisions, Authorizations, and Allotments - Part A: Authorization and Allotments - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1991 for: (1) basic State grants under title II to improve the quality of vocational education payments to meet the needs of the changing economy; (2) basic State grants under title II to provide equal access to, and benefit from, vocational education programs for underserved groups of individuals and groups of individuals with special needs; (3) State administration, planning, and evaluation programs under title I; (4) national programs under title III, with specified exceptions; (5) the Occupational Information Data System under title III; and (6) the Fund for the improvement of vocational education. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 and 1986 for the President's Commission on Vocational Education under title III. Requires that the amount appropriated in any fiscal year for basic State grants for improvement of program quality be substantially equal to the amount for the basic State grants for provisions of equal access to programs.

Requires a State, in order to receive any allotment under this Act, to: (1) establish a State board and a State advisory council on vocational-technical education; (2) have an approved State plan and application; (3) comply with evaluation and review and other provisions of this Act.

Directs the Secretary, from appropriations for basic State grants and for State administration, planning, and evaluation, to reserve two percent for Indian programs. Directs the Secretary, from the remainder of such appropriations and subject to specified provisions, to allot to each State for each fiscal year an amount based on formulas using State allotment ratios and relative State populations of certain age groups. Allots the following percentages of such funds on the basis of population age: (1) 15 through 19--50 percent; (2) 20 through 24--20 percent; and (3) 25 through 65--15 percent. Allots the remaining 15 percent on the basis of relative sums of such age group allotment. Sets forth a minimum State allotment amount, with specified exceptions, and minimum allotments for specified territories and possessions of the United States. Provides for reallotment among other States of any amount which the Secretary determines will not be required for carrying out a State's program for any fiscal year. Sets forth a formula for determining State allotment ratios based on relative State per capita income. Sets maximum and minimum limits on such ratios and sets ratios for specified territories and possessions of the United States.

Sets forth provisions for Indian programs. Directs the Secretary, upon the request of an eligible Indian tribe, to contract with the tribal organization to plan, conduct and administer vocational education programs with the two-percent reserved funds for such purpose. Authorizes the Secretary, from any remaining funds from such reserved funds, to enter into an agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for the operation of vocational education programs in institutions serving eligible Indians. Makes provisions of this Act applicable to the BIA as if it were a State board.

Part B: Federal Administrative Responsibilities - Sets forth provisions for payments to States for administrative costs. Sets forth maintenance of effort requirements.

Sets forth provisions for withholding of funds from States by the Secretary, and for judicial review of such withholding.

Part C: Transitional and Conforming Amendments - Sets forth provisions for the transition from requirements (including expenditure of funds) under the Vocational Education Act of 1963 to requirements under this Act. Transfers the personnel, property and records of: (1) the National Advisory Council on Vocational Education established under such Act to the President's Council on Vocational-Technical Education established under this Act and to the advisory council on research and program improvement established under this Act; and (2) the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee established under such Act to the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee established under this Act.

Repeals the Vocational Education Act of 1963.

Makes conforming amendments to the JTPA, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Adult Education Act, the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968.

Part D: Definition of Terms - Sets forth definitions of terms used in this Act.