PREPARE Act

To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to increase the allocation for rural areas, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing Rural Equity, Parity, and Reinvestment in Education Act PREPARE Act 2. Within State allocation Section 112 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2322 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking 10 percent 15 percent (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A)— (I) by striking 1 percent 2 percent (II) by striking State correctional institutions and institutions State correctional institutions, juvenile justice facilities, and educational institutions (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking available for services available to assist eligible recipients in providing services (C) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking a local plan; local applications; (2) in subsection (c)— (A) by striking From amounts (1) In general From amounts ; (B) by striking section 135 section 135— (A) in— (i) rural areas; (ii) areas with high percentages of CTE concentrators or CTE participants; and (iii) areas with high numbers of CTE concentrators or CTE participants; and (B) in order to— (i) foster innovation through the identification and promotion of promising and proven career and technical education programs, practices, and strategies, which may include practices and strategies that prepare individuals for nontraditional fields; or (ii) promote the development, implementation, and adoption of programs of study or career pathways aligned with State-identified in-demand occupations or industries. ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) Definitions For purposes of this subsection: (A) CTE concentrators The term CTE concentrator (i) at the secondary school level, a student served by an eligible recipient who has— (I) completed three or more career and technical education courses; or (II) completed at least two courses in a single career and technical education program or program of study; or (ii) at the postsecondary level, a student enrolled in an eligible recipient who has— (I) earned at least 12 cumulative credits within a career and technical education program or program of study; or (II) completed such a program if the program encompasses fewer than 12 credits or the equivalent in total. (B) CTE participant The term CTE participant .

Summary: Providing Rural Equity, Parity, and Reinvestment in Education Act or the PREPARE Act This bill amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 with respect to within-state funding allocations. States are required to reserve up to 15% (currently, 10%) of their grant funds for innovative career and technical education (CTE) activities in rural areas and in areas with high percentages and high numbers of CTE concentrators or participants. A "CTE concentrator" at the (1) secondary school level, is a student served by an eligible recipient who has completed three or more CTE courses or completed at least two courses in a single CTE program or program of study; or (2) postsecondary level, is a student enrolled in an eligible recipient who has earned at least 12 cumulative credits within a CTE program or program of study, or completed such a program if it encompasses fewer than 12 credits or the equivalent in total. A "CTE participant" is an individual who completes at least one course or earns at least one credit in a CTE program or program of study of an eligible recipient.