N.Y. Education Law § 3602-d: Work-prep education program

§ 3602-d. Work-prep education program. 1. Legislative findings. The

legislature recognizes that rapid technological advances and global

economic competition demand increased levels of skilled career education

preparation and readiness on the part of youths entering the workforce.

Effective strategies reaching beyond the boundaries of traditional

schooling are necessary to provide early and sustained intervention by

parents, teachers, and educational institutions in the lives of

students. The establishment of a work-prep education program requiring

systematic career education articulation agreements between secondary

schools and post-secondary educational institutions is such a strategy.

Youths participating in this program will develop the skills in liberal

arts, basic academics, including literacy instruction, and career fields

necessary to acquire an associate degree or certificate increasingly

required for positions in the workforce.

2. Definitions. As used in this section:

(a) "Articulation agreement" shall mean a commitment between secondary

and post-secondary institutions to a program designed to provide

students with a non-duplicative sequence of courses leading to

competencies, as demonstrated by an associate degree or certificate, in

an occupationally oriented field.

(b) "Disadvantaged" shall mean individuals (other than handicapped

individuals) who have economic or academic disadvantages and who require

special services and assistance in order to enable them to succeed in

work-prep programs. Such term includes individuals who are: members of

economically disadvantaged families as set forth in regulations

promulgated by the department pursuant to sections sixty-four hundred

fifty-one and sixty-four hundred fifty-two of this chapter or as set

forth in the Federal Job Training Partnership Act of nineteen hundred

eighty-two (PL 97-300) (29 U.S.C.A. § 1501 et seq.); migrants; English

language learners; and individuals who are identified as potential

dropouts from secondary school.

(c) "Work-prep education program" shall mean a combined secondary and

post-secondary program which: leads to an associate degree or

certificate; provides preparation and establishes competencies in an

occupationally oriented field; and leads to employment.

(d) "Occupationally oriented field" shall mean applied science,

engineering, health sciences, mechanical or industrial arts, and/or home

economics.

3. Work-prep education program. (a) The commissioner shall, out of

available funds pursuant to the Federal Carl D. Perkins Act (PL 98-524)

and/or its successor, provide grants on a competitive basis, to pay the

cost of activities authorized by this section to a consortia of:

(1) school districts, local education agencies and/or boards of

cooperative educational services serving secondary students; and

(2) post-secondary educational agencies which offer an associate

degree program or certificate program.

(b) Each consortia interested in initiating a work-prep program shall

submit a five year plan for the development and implementation of

work-prep activities. At a minimum, the plan shall contain the

following:

(1) an articulation agreement between the participants in the

consortium;

(2) linkages between the two years of secondary school preceding

graduation and post-secondary study. Such linkage must incorporate a

next generation of required proficiency in an occupationally oriented

field leading to an associate degree or certificate in a specific career

field;

(3) the development of work-prep education program curriculum

appropriate to the needs of consortium participants, program

participants, and the business community;

(4) the development of specific measures to eliminate gender-based

bias in occupational recruitment, counseling, instruction, and placement

efforts;

(5) the provision of in-service training for counselors designed to

enable counselors to effectively: recruit students for work-prep

programs; ensure the student's successful completion of such programs;

and assist in the student's employment placement; and

(6) performance standards creating measures for evaluating program

success.

(c) The commissioner shall give special consideration to applications

which:

(1) provide for effective employment placement activities;

(2) demonstrate a commitment to continue such program activities;

(3) include the input of business, industry, labor unions, joint

apprenticeship committees, and employers conducting registered

apprenticeship programs, in its development; and

(4) address the issues of dropout prevention, disadvantaged youths,

and handicapped youths.

4. Apportionment of funds. (a) Allowable costs under this section

shall include expenses related to the coordination, administration

and/or delivery of the work-prep program such as: costs of assessment,

guidance, and instructional materials; purchase of equipment; personal

services associated with joint curriculum planning and development

activities; and costs of in-service training for participating teachers

and guidance counselors.

(b) Moneys appropriated under this section shall be apportioned

ensuring an equitable distribution of assistance throughout the state

and among both urban and rural participants.