Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/223

 PUBLIC LAW 103-227—MAR. 31, 1994 108 STAT. 197 (6) provide appropriate technical assistance to voluntary partnerships involved in the development of standards and systems described in subsection (b); and (7) facilitate coordination among voluntary partnerships that meet the requirements of subsection (b) to promote the development of a coherent national system of voluntary skill standards. (d) ENDORSEMENT OF SKILL STANDARDS SYSTEMS.— (1) DEVELOPMENT OF ENDORSEMENT CRITERIA. —<A) The National Board, after extensive public consultation, shall develop objective criteria for endorsing skill standards systems relating to the occupational clusters identified pursuant to subsection (a). Such criteria shall, at a minimimi, include the components of a skill standards system described in subparagraph (B). The endorsement criteria shall be published in the Federal Register, and updated as appropriate. (B) The skill standards systems endorsed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall have one or more of the following components: (i) Voluntary skill standards, which at a minimum— (I) take into account relevant standards used in other countries and relevant international standards; (II) meet or exceed the highest applicable standards used in the United States, including apprenticeship standards registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the "National Apprenticeship Act", 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663, 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.); (III) take mto account content and performance standards certified pursuant to title II; (IV) take into account the requirements of high performance work organizations; (V) are in a form that allows for regular updating to take into account advances in technology or other developments within the occupational cluster; (VI) are formulated in such a manner that promotes the portability of credentials and facilitates worker mobility within an occupational cluster or industry and among industries; and (VII) are not discriminatory with respect to race, color, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, disability, or national origin, consistent with Federal civil rights laws. (ii) A voluntary system of assessment and certification of the attainment of skill standards developed pursuant to subparagraph (A), which at a minimum— (I) has been developed after taking into account relevant methods of such assessment and certification used in other countries; (II) utilizes a variety of evaluation techniques, including, where appropriate, oral and written evaluations, portfolio assessments, and performance tests; and (III) includes methods for establishing that the assessment and certification system is not Technical assistance. Federal Register, publication.

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