Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 1.djvu/851

 PUBLIC LAW 101-392—SEPT. 25, 1990 104 STAT. 817 programs to work as interns for Federal and State agencies, nationally recognized vocational education associations, or the National Center or Centers for Research in Vocationgd Ekiucation, Each such student shall receive a stipend for the period of the student's internship, which shall not exceed 9 months. Such stipend shall cover subsistence and other expenses for such individuals and shall be in such amount as the Secretary may determine to be consistent with prevailing practices. "(B) Each individual selected under this paragraph shall have been recommended as gifted and talented by a vocational educator at the secondary or postsecondary school the student attends. "(C) Each individual selected under this paragraph shall, during the period of such individual's internship, be provided with professional supervision by an individual qualified and experienced in the field of vocational education at the agency or institution at which the internship is offered. "SEC. 415. BLUE RIBBON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 20 USC 2415. "(a) INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.—The Secretary is authorized to disseminate information and exemplary materials regarding effective vocational education. "(b) STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.— (1) The Secretary, in consultation with the National Center or Centers for Research in Vocational Education (in this section referred to as the 'National Center or Centers for Research'), the National Diffusion Network, and the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, is authorized to carry out programs to recognize secondary and postsecondary schools or programs which have established standards of excellence in vocational education and which have demonstrated a high level of quality. Such schools and programs shall be known as 'Blue Ribbon Vocational Programs'. The Secretary shall competitively select schools and programs to be recognized from among public and private schools or programs within the States and schools funded by the Department of the Interior. "(2) In the case of a private school or vocational education program that is designated as a Blue Ribbon Vocational Education Progrgim, the Secretary shall make suitable arrangements to provide the award to such school. "(c) AWARDS.— (1) The Secretary, in consultation with the National Center or C!enters for Research and the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (in this section referred to as the 'Committee'), is authorized to designate each fiscal year a category or several categories of vocational education, which may include tech-prep education, in which Blue Ribbon Vocational Education Program awards will be named. Such categories shall emphasize the expansion or strengthening of the participation of individuals who are members of special populations and may give special consideration to any of the following: "(A) program improvement; "(B) academic and occupational competencies; and "(C) other categories determined by the Secretary in consultation with the National Center or Centers for Research and the Committee. "(2) Within each category, the Secretary shall determine the criteria and procedures for selection. Selection for such awards shall be based solely on merit. Schools or programs selected for awards

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