Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 5.djvu/333

 PUBLIC LAW 105-33^—OCT. 31, 1998 112 STAT. 3091 Secretary an independent analysis of the findings and recommendations resulting from the assessment described in paragraph (3). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the panel established under this subsection. " (3) EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT.— "(A) IN GENERAL. — Fronii amounts made available under paragraph (8), the Secretary shall provide for the conduct of an independent evaluation and assessment of vocational and technical education programs under this Act through studies and analyses conducted independently through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements that are awarded on a competitive basis. "(B) CONTENTS.— The assessment required under paragraph (1) shall include descriptions and evaluations of— "(i) the extent to which State, local, and tribal entities have developed, implemented, or improved State and local vocational and technical education programs and the effect of programs assisted under this Act on that development, implementation, or improvement, including the capacity of State, tribal, and local vocational and technical education systems to achieve the purpose of this Act; "(ii) the extent to which expenditures at the Federal, State, tribal, and local levels address program improvement in vocational and technical education, including the impact of Federal allocation requirements (such as within-State allocation formulas) on the delivery of services; "(iii) the preparation and qualifications of teachers of vocational and technical, and academic, curricula in vocational and technical education programs, as well as shortages of such teachers; "(iv) participation of students in vocational and technical education programs; "(v) academic and employment outcomes of vocational and technical education, including analyses of— "(I) the number of vocational and technical education students and tech-prep students who meet State adjusted levels of performance; "(II) the extent and success of integration of academic, and vocational and technical, education for students participating in vocational and technical education programs; and "(III) the extent to which vocational and technical education programs prepare students for subsequent employment in high-wage, high-skill careers or participation in postsecondary education; "(vi) employer involvement in, and satisfaction with, vocational and technical education programs; "(vii) the use and impact of educational technology and distance learning with respect to vocational and technical education and tech-prep programs; and "(viii) the effect of State adjusted levels of performance and State levels of performance on the delivery of vocational and technical education services. " (C) REPORTS.—

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