34 C.F.R. Subpart A—General
Title 34 - Education
The Vocational Education Research Program is designed to— (a) Improve access to vocational educational programs for individuals with disabilities, individuals who are disadvantaged, men and women who are entering nontraditional occupations, adults who are in need of retraining, single parents, displaced homemakers, single pregnant women, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals who are incarcerated in correctional institutions; (b) Support research and development activities that make the United States more competitive in the world economy by developing more fully the academic and occupational skills of all segments of the population by concentrating resources on improving educational programs leading to academic and occupational skill competencies needed to work in a technologically advanced society; (c) Improve the competitive process by which research projects are awarded; (d) Encourage the dissemination of findings of research projects assisted under the Act to all States; and (e) Support research activities that are readily applicable to the vocational education setting and are of practical application to vocational education administrators, counselors, instructors, and others involved in vocational education. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2401) (a) Any individual or public or private agency, organization, or institution may apply for an award under this part. (b) Any individual researcher, community college, State advisory council, or State or local educator may submit an unsolicited research application. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402(a), (b)) The Secretary may directly, or through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, conduct applied research on aspects of vocational education that are specially related to the Act, including the following: (a) Applied research on— (1) Effective methods for providing quality vocational education to individuals with disabilities, disadvantaged individuals, men and women in nontraditional fields, adults, single parents, displaced homemakers, single pregnant women, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals who are incarcerated in correctional institutions; (2) The development and implementation of performance standards and measures that fit within the needs of State boards of vocational education or eligible recipients as defined in 34 CFR 400.4 in carrying out the provisions of the Act and on the relationship of those standards and measures to the data system established under section 421 of the Act. Research may include an evaluation of existing performance standards and measures and dissemination of that information to State boards of vocational education and eligible recipients; (3) Strategies for coordinating local, State, and Federal vocational education, employment training, and economic development programs to maximize their efficacy and for improving worker training and retraining; (4) The constructive involvement of the private sector in public vocational education; (5) Successful methods of reinforcing and enhancing basic and more advanced academic and problem-solving skills in vocational settings; (6) Successful methods for providing students, to the maximum extent practicable, with experience in and understanding of all aspects of the industry those students are preparing to enter; and (7) The development of effective methods for providing quality vocational education to individuals with limited English proficiency, including research related to bilingual vocational training. (b) An evaluation of the use of performance standards and measures under the Act and the effect of those standards and measures on the participation of students in vocational education programs and on the outcomes of students in those programs, especially students who are members of special populations as defined in 34 CFR 400.4. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402(a)) The following regulations apply to the Vocational Education Research Program: (a) The regulations in this part 411. (b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 400. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2401 and 2402) The definitions in 34 CFR 400.4 apply to this part. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2401 and 2402)
Title 34: Education
PART 411—VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH PROGRAM
Subpart A—General
§ 411.1 What is the Vocational Education Research Program?
§ 411.2 Who is eligible for an award?
§ 411.3 What activities may the Secretary fund?
§ 411.4 What regulations apply?
§ 411.5 What definitions apply?
