§ 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.