Equity in Career and Technical Education Act of 2016

To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 in order to improve career and technical education, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equity in Career and Technical Education Act of 2016 2. References Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq. 3. Purpose Section 2 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 2. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to support the development of and access to high-quality career and technical education programs of study that successfully prepare students for college and careers, thereby ensuring the global competitiveness of the United States and the economic self-sufficiency of the citizens of the United States. . 4. Definitions Section 3 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (28) and (29) through (34) as paragraphs (16) through (29) and (31) through (36), respectively; (2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following: (15) Equity gap The term equity gap ; (3) by inserting after paragraph (29), as redesignated by paragraph (1), the following: (30) Self-sufficiency The term self-sufficiency ; and (4) in paragraph (33), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking and instructional aids and devices. instructional aids and devices, transportation, child care, dependent care, tuition, books, supplies, and other services necessary to enable an individual to participate in career and technical education activities. 5. Authorization of appropriations Section 4 ( 20 U.S.C. 2307 2007 through 2012 2017 through 2021 6. Within State allocation Subparagraph (B) of section 112(a)(2) ( 20 U.S.C. 2322(a)(2) (B) not less than $100,000 shall be reserved to provide technical assistance and professional development to local educational agencies on effective strategies for closing equity gaps; and . 7. Accountability Section 113 ( 20 U.S.C. 2323 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (3)(A)— (i) in clause (i)(II), by inserting closing equity gaps and progress toward (ii) in clause (vi)(II), by inserting close equity gaps and levels of performance (B) in paragraph (4)— (i) in subparagraph (A)— (I) in clause (i)(II), by inserting closing equity gaps and progress toward (II) in clause (v)(II), by inserting close equity gaps and levels of performance (ii) in subparagraph (C)— (I) in clause (i)— (aa) by striking regarding the progress regarding— (I) the progress ; (bb) by striking indicators of performance. indicators of performance; and (cc) by adding at the end the following: (II) how the eligible recipient has used funds to provide programs and support services to close the equity gaps identified under clause (ii)(II). ; and (II) in clause (ii)— (aa) in subclause (I), by striking for the subgroups of students ; and by gender, by race, and for each of the special populations described in section 3(31); and (bb) in subclause (II), by striking disparities or gaps in performance equity gaps (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking and (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) the progress of the State in closing equity gaps and how the eligible agency has used funds to provide programs and services for eligible recipients to close such equity gaps; and ; and (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking for the categories ; and by gender, race, and for each of the special populations described in section 3(31); and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking disparities or gaps in performance between any such category of students and the performance of all students served by the eligible agency under this Act equity gaps between any category of students described in subparagraph (A) 8. National activities Section 114(d) ( 20 U.S.C. 2324(d) (1) in paragraph (1)(B)— (A) in clause (v), by striking and (B) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); and (C) by inserting after clause (v) the following: (vi) individuals with expertise on the development of programs that have been effective in closing equity gaps; and ; (2) in paragraph (2)(B)— (A) in clause (i), by inserting and have been successful in closing equity gaps under this Act (B) in the matter preceding subclause (I) of clause (iii), by inserting , disaggregated as described in section 113(b)(4)(C)(ii)(I) and including analyses (3) in the matter preceding subclause (I) of paragraph (4)(A)(i), by inserting closing equity gaps and addressing (4) in paragraph (5), by striking for providing for closing equity gaps by providing high-quality 9. State administration Section 121(a) ( 20 U.S.C. 2341(a) (1) in paragraph (3), by striking and (2) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (5) conducting an equity gap analysis. . 10. State plan Section 122(c) ( 20 U.S.C. 2342(c) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (K), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (L), by inserting and (C) by adding at the end the following: (M) how funds will be used to support State technical assistance and professional development to close the equity gaps identified in section 121(a)(5); ; (2) in paragraph (2)(E), by inserting close equity gaps and and skills needed to (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph (9), by striking for special populations for closing equity gaps 11. State program improvement Section 123 ( 20 U.S.C. 2343 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by inserting , or fails to show improvement on closing any equity gap identified under section 113(c)(2)(B) for the preceding fiscal year, upon State adjusted level of performance (ii) by inserting or close equity gaps, adjusted level of performance, (B) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (A)— (I) in clause (ii)— (aa) by inserting , or in closing equity gaps, levels of performance (bb) by striking or (II) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (III) by adding at the end the following: (iv) fails to show improvement on closing equity gaps for the populations identified in section 113(c)(2)(A) for 3 consecutive years. ; (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) Use of funds An eligible agency shall use funds made available under section 112(c) for the purposes described in section 124(b)(10) when the eligible agency— (i) fails to show improvement in closing equity gaps within the first program year of implementation of its improvement plan described in paragraph (1); or (ii) fails to show improvement on closing equity gaps for the populations identified in section 113(c)(2)(A) for 3 consecutive years. ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting conduct an equity gap analysis to shall (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) by inserting , or failed to show improvement on the closing of equity gaps identified in section 113(b)(4)(C)(ii)(II), upon local adjusted level of performance (ii) by striking (with special consideration to performance gaps identified under section 113(b)(4)(C)(ii)(II)) (C) in paragraph (4)— (i) in subparagraph (A)— (I) in clause (ii)— (aa) by inserting in closing equity gaps or any improvement (bb) by striking or (II) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (III) by adding at the end the following: (iv) fails to show improvement on closing equity gaps for the populations identified in section 113(b)(4)(C)(ii)(I) for 3 consecutive years. ; and (ii) by adding at the end the following: (C) Additional requirements An eligible entity shall require an eligible recipient receiving an allocation under this title to use not less than 10 percent of the funds made available to the eligible recipient under section 131 or 132 to meet the purposes described in section 135(b)(9) in any case where an eligible recipient— (i) fails to show improvement in closing equity gaps within the first program year of implementation of its improvement plan described in paragraph (1); or (ii) fails to show improvement on closing equity gaps for the populations identified in section 113(c)(2)(A) for 3 consecutive years. . 12. State leadership activities Section 124(b) ( 20 U.S.C. 2344(b) (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting equity gap assessment of the career (2) in paragraph (8), by striking and (3) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (10) delivering professional development, leadership, and technical assistance for eligible recipients to close equity gaps identified in paragraph (1) for any of the core indicators of performance described in section 113(b)(4). . 13. Local plan for career and technical education programs Section 134(b) ( 20 U.S.C. 2354(b) (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting closing equity gaps and with respect to (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting the closing of equity gaps and the integration of 14. Local uses of funds Section 135(b) ( 20 U.S.C. 2355(b) (1) in paragraph (5)(A)— (A) in clause (iii), by striking and (B) in clause (iv), by inserting and (C) by adding at the end the following: (v) effective practices to close equity gaps in career and technical education programs of study; ; (2) in paragraph (6), by striking assessment of how equity gap assessment of how (3) in paragraph (9), by inserting to close equity gaps and provide activities

Summary: Equity in Career and Technical Education Act of 2016 This bill amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to require state and local educational agencies to conduct an annual equity gap assessment for career and technical education programs of study and create plans on how to reduce the gap.The "equity gap" consists of the gaps in participation and performance between students based on gender, race, and certain special populations. The bill requires states to provide professional development and technical assistance to help local educational agencies close equity gaps in career and technical education.States and local agencies that fail to make improvements in closing equity gaps must implement an improvement plan.The Department of Education (ED)may withhold funding from states that fail to show improvement in closing equity gaps.Additionally, states may withhold funding from local agencies that fail to make improvements. States must also annually report toED on the progress of the state in closing equity gaps.