104 STAT. 808 PUBLIC LAW 101-392—SEPT. 25, 1990 "SEC. 403. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PRO- GRAMS. "(a) IN GENERAL. — (1) The Office of Education Research and Improvement (in this section referred to as the 'Office') shall conduct a national assessment of vocational education programs assisted under this Act, through studies and analyses conducted independently through competitive awards. "(2) The Office shall appoint an independent advisory panel, consisting of vocational education administrators, educators, researchers, and representatives of business, industry, labor, and other relevant groups, to advise the Office on the implementation of such assessment, including the issues to be addressed, the methodology of the studies, and the findings and recommendations. The panel, at its discretion, may submit to the Congress an independent analysis of the findings and recommendations of the assessment. The Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the panel established under this paragraph. "(b) CONTENTS.—The assessment required under subsection (a) shall include descriptions and evaluations of— "(1) the effect of this Act on State and tribal administration of vocational education programs and on local vocational education practices, including the capacity of State, tribal and local vocational education systems to address the priorities identified in this Act; "(2) expenditures at the Federal, State, tribal and local levels to address program improvement in vocational education, including the impact of Federal allocation requirements (such as within-State allocation formulas) on the delivery of services; "(3) preparation and qualifications of teachers of vocational and academic curricula in vocational education programs, as well as shortages of such teachers; "(4) participation in vocational education programs, including, in particular, access of individuals who are members of special populations to high-quality vocational education programs and the effect on the delivery of services to such populations, of Federal legislation giving States flexibility in allocating funds to serve such populations; "(5) academic and employment outcomes of vocational education, including analyses of— "(A) the effect of educational reform on vocational education; "(B) the extent and success of integration of academic and vocational curricula; "(C) the success of the school-to-work transition; and "(D) the degree to which vocational training is relevant to subsequent employment; "(6) employer involvement in, and satisfaction with, vocational education programs; "(7) the effect of performance standards and other measures of accountability on the delivery of vocational education services; "(8) the effect of Federal requirements regarding criteria for services to special populations, participatory planning in the States, and articulation between secondary and postsecondary programs;
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