[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 3]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR413.3]

[Page 89-90]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
  CHAPTER IV--OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND ADULT EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                                EDUCATION
 
PART 413--NATIONAL CENTER OR CENTERS FOR RESEARCH IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 413.3  What kinds of activities are carried out?

    The Secretary provides a grant or cooperative agreement to a 
National Center or Centers that are designed to perform either one or 
both of the following activities:
    (a) Applied research and development activities. (1) A major purpose 
of the National Center is to design and conduct research and development 
activities that are consistent with the purposes of the Act, including--
    (i) Longitudinal studies that extend over a period of years;
    (ii) Supplementary and short-term activities; and
    (iii) Upon negotiation with the center, and if funds are provided 
pursuant to section 404(d) of the Act, such other topics as the 
Secretary may designate.
    (2) The National Center shall conduct applied research and 
development activities that include examination of the following:
    (i) Economic changes that affect the skills that employers seek and 
entrepreneurs need.
    (ii) Integration of academic and vocational education.
    (iii) Efficient and effective practices for addressing the needs of 
special populations.
    (iv) Efficient and effective methods for delivering vocational 
education.
    (v) Articulation of school and college instruction with high quality 
work experience.
    (vi) Recruitment, education, and enhancement of vocational teachers 
and other professionals in the field.
    (vii) Accountability processes in vocational education, including 
identification and evaluation of the use of appropriate performance 
standards for student, program, and State-level outcomes.
    (viii) Effective practices that educate students in all aspects of 
the industry the students are preparing to enter.
    (ix) Effective methods for identifying and inculcating literacy and 
other communication skills essential for effective job preparation and 
job performance.
    (x) Identification of strategic, high priority occupational skills 
and skills formation approaches needed to maintain the competitiveness 
of the United States workforce, sustain high-wage, high-technology jobs, 
and address national priorities such as technical jobs needed to protect 
and restore the environment.
    (xi) Identification of practices and strategies that address 
entrepreneurial development for minority-owned enterprises.
    (3) The applied research and development activities must include--
    (i) An emphasis on the recruitment, education, and enhancement of 
minority and female vocational teachers and professionals; and
    (ii) Activities that aid in the development of minorities and women 
for leadership roles in vocational education.
    (b) Dissemination and training activities. (1) A major purpose of 
the National Center is to design and conduct dissemination and training 
activities that are consistent with the purposes of the Act, including--
    (i) The broad dissemination of the results of the research and 
development conducted by the National Center;
    (ii) The development and utilization of a national level 
dissemination network including functions such as clearinghouses, 
databases, and telecommunications;

[[Page 90]]

    (iii) Planning, developing, and conducting training activities; and
    (iv) Upon negotiation with the Center and if funds are provided 
pursuant to section 404(d) of the Act, such other topics as the 
Secretary may designate.
    (2) The National Center shall conduct dissemination and training 
activities that include the following:
    (i) Teacher and administrator training and leadership development.
    (ii) Technical assistance to ensure that programs serving special 
populations are effective in delivering well-integrated and 
appropriately articulated vocational and academic offerings for 
secondary, postsecondary, and adult students.
    (iii) Needs assessment, design, and implementation of new and 
revised programs with related curriculum materials to facilitate 
vocational-academic integration.
    (iv) Evaluation and follow-through to maintain and extend quality 
programs.
    (v) Assistance in technology transfer and articulation of program 
offerings from advanced technology centers to minority enterprises.
    (vi) Assistance to programs and States on the use of accountability 
indicators, including appropriate and innovative performance standards.
    (vii) Delivery of information and services using advanced 
technology, if appropriate, to increase the effectiveness and efficiency 
of knowledge transfer.
    (viii) Development of processes for synthesis of research, in 
cooperation with a broad array of users, including vocational and non-
vocational educators, employers and labor organizations.
    (ix) Dissemination of exemplary curriculum and instructional 
materials, and development and publication of curriculum materials (in 
conjunction with vocational and nonvocational constituency groups, if 
appropriate).
    (x) Technical assistance in recruiting, hiring, and advancing 
minorities in vocational education.
    (3) The training and leadership development activities must include 
an emphasis on--
    (i) Training minority and female teachers; and
    (ii) Programs and activities that aid in the development of 
minorities and women for leadership roles in vocational education.
    (4) Advanced technology may include audio-video cassettes, 
electronic networking, satellite-assisted programming, computer-based 
conferencing, and interactive video.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2404 (b) and (c); House Report No. 101-660, 101st 
Cong. 2nd Sess. p. 143 (1990))