Perkins Modernization Act of 2014

Summary: Perkins Modernization Act of 2014 - Amends the Carl D. Perkins and Technical Education Act of 2006 to revise its purposes, which are to develop more fully the academic and career and technical skills of secondary education students and postsecondary students who elect to enroll in career and technical education programs (as under current law), by: (1) preparing those students for employment in current or emerging in-demand industry sectors or occupations; (2) aligning the skills, certifications, and credentials of the students with those needed by employers in the labor markets served by educational institutions; and (3) ensuring that the selection of skills, certifications, and credentials acquired by such students is guided by timely labor market information. Defines &quot;in-demand industry sector or occupation&quot; to mean an industry sector or occupation that: (1) has or is projected to have a substantial role or a positive economic impact in the economy of the area served by an eligible institution; (2) provides workers with jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement; and (3) is documented in labor market information collected by state and federal agencies, workforce investment boards, or other third-party organizations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Perkins Modernization Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    Section 2 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``high skill, high wage, 
        or high demand occupations in current or emerging professions'' 
        and inserting ``employment in current or emerging in-demand 
        industry sectors or occupations'';
            (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (6); and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) Aligning the skills, certifications, and credentials 
        of secondary and postsecondary students who enroll in career 
        and technical education programs with the skills, 
        certifications, and credentials needed by employers in the 
        labor markets served by the educational institutions.
            ``(9) Ensuring that the selection of skills, 
        certifications, and credentials acquired by career and 
        technical education students is guided by timely labor market 
        information.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(35) In-demand industry sector or occupation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `in-demand industry 
                sector or occupation' means an industry sector or 
                occupation that--
                            ``(i) has or is projected to have a 
                        substantial role or a positive economic impact 
                        in the economy of the area served by an 
                        eligible institution;
                            ``(ii) provides workers with jobs that lead 
                        to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities 
                        for advancement; and
                            ``(iii) is documented in labor market 
                        information collected by State agencies, 
                        Federal agencies, workforce investment boards, 
                        or other third-party organizations engaged in 
                        labor market research.
                    ``(B) Determination.--The determination of whether 
                an industry sector or occupation is an in-demand 
                industry sector or occupation under this paragraph 
                shall be made using State, local, regional, or national 
                labor market information collected by State agencies, 
                Federal agencies, local entities, workforce investment 
                boards, or other third-party organizations engaged in 
                labor market research. Industry sectors and occupations 
                may be identified as in-demand on a current or an 
                emerging basis, as labor market information may 
                describe current workforce demographics and may also 
                identify projected labor market trends.''.

SEC. 4. ACCOUNTABILITY.

    Section 113(b)(2)(B)(iv) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2323(b)(2)(B)(iv)) is 
amended by striking ``high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations 
in current or emerging professions'' and inserting ``employment in in-
demand industry sectors or occupations''.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

    Section 114(d) of the of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii)(II)--
                    (A) by striking ``high skill, high wage occupations 
                (including those in which mathematics and science 
                skills are critical)''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``in-demand industry sectors or 
                occupations'' after ``employment in''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(V)--
                    (A) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or high 
                demand business and industry''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``in-demand industry sectors or 
                occupations'' after `` occupations in''.

SEC. 6. OCCUPATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION.

    Section 118(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2328) is amended in paragraphs (1), 
(3), and (4) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or high demand 
occupations and non-traditional fields'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations''.

SEC. 7. STATE PLAN.

    Section 122(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ``and 
                careers in in-demand industry sectors or occupations'' 
                after ``in postsecondary education'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (H)--
                            (i) by striking ``entry into high skill, 
                        high wage, or high demand occupations in 
                        current or emerging occupations''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``for employment in in-
                        demand industry sectors or occupations'' after 
                        ``or''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (I)(iii)--
                            (i) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or 
                        high demand occupations''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``in-demand industry 
                        sectors or occupations'' after ``in'';
            (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``or into employment in 
        an in-demand industry sector or occupation'' after 
        ``institutions of higher education'';
            (3) in paragraph (9)(C)--
                    (A) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or high 
                demand occupations''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``employment in an in-demand 
                industry sector or occupation'' after ``further 
                learning and for''; and
            (4) in paragraph (18)--
                    (A) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or high 
                demand occupations and non-traditional fields''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``employment in in-demand industry 
                sectors or occupations'' after ``for''.

SEC. 8. STATE LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES.

    Section 124 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or 
                        high demand occupations''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``employment in in-demand 
                        industry sectors or occupations'' after 
                        ``for'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ``, 
                equipment,'' after ``internships'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``high skill, high wage 
                        occupations''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``employment 
                        opportunities in in-demand industry sectors or 
                        occupations'' after ``to'';
                    (D) in paragraph (8)--
                            (i) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or 
                        high demand''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``employment in in-demand 
                        industry sectors or'' after ``to''; and
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
            ``(10) Analyzing labor market information collected by 
        State agencies, Federal agencies, workforce investment boards, 
        or other third-party organizations engaged in labor market 
        research in order to ensure that programs of study in career 
        and technical education align with labor market needs.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, 
                        and encouraging secondary students to pursue 
                        dual enrollment coursework as well as industry 
                        licenses, certificates, and other post-
                        secondary credentials'' after ``degree''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by striking ``high skill, high 
                                wage occupations and non-traditional 
                                fields''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``employment 
                                opportunities in in-demand industry 
                                sectors or occupations and supporting 
                                students in the pursuit of internships 
                                and opportunities for experiential 
                                learning'' after ``to''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (9)--
                            (i) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or 
                        high demand occupations''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``employment 
                        opportunities in in-demand industry sectors or 
                        occupations'' after ``for''.

SEC. 9. LOCAL PLAN FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

    Section 134(b)(8)(C) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)(8)(C)) is amended by striking 
``high skill, high wage, or high demand'' and inserting ``employment 
opportunities in in-demand industry sectors or''.

SEC. 10. LOCAL USES OF FUNDS.

    Section 135 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2355) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(9)--
                    (A) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or high 
                demand''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``employment opportunities in in-
                demand industry sectors or'' after ``for''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(12)--
                    (A) by striking ``high skill, high wage, or high 
                demand''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``employment opportunities in in-
                demand industry sectors or'' after ``technically for''.