BUILD Career and Technical Education Act of 2015

To establish a pilot grant program to support career and technical education exploration programs in middle schools and high schools. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Building Understanding, Investment, Learning, and Direction Career and Technical Education Act of 2015 BUILD Career and Technical Education Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in career and technical education programs is 93 percent. (2) Students at schools with highly integrated rigorous academic and career and technical education programs have significantly higher achievement in reading, mathematics, and science than do students at schools with less integrated programs. (3) Four out of 5 graduates of secondary-level career and technical education programs who pursued postsecondary education after secondary school had earned a credential or were still enrolled in postsecondary education 2 years later. (4) Eighty percent of students taking a college preparatory academic curriculum with rigorous career and technical education met college and career readiness goals, compared to only 63 percent of students taking the same academic core who did not experience rigorous career and technical education. (5) Students who have participated in skills-training programs see increased wages and earnings, have a higher probability and consistency of employment, and work in higher-quality jobs. 3. Pilot grant program to support career and technical education exploration program in middle schools and high schools (a) Purposes The purposes of this Act are the following: (1) To provide students with opportunities to participate in career and technical education exploration programs and to provide information on available career and technical education programs and their impact on college and career readiness. (2) To expand professional growth of, and career opportunities for, students through career and technical education exploration programs. (3) To enhance collaboration between education providers and employers. (4) To develop or enhance career and technical education exploration programs with ties to a career and technical education program of study. (5) To evaluate students’ participation in coordinated middle school and high school career and technical education exploration programs. (b) Definitions In this Act: (1) Career and technical education exploration program The term career and technical education exploration program (2) Secretary The term Secretary (c) Authorization of grant program (1) In general The Secretary shall award grants to local educational agencies to support career and technical education exploration programs. (2) Grant duration Grants awarded under this Act shall be 2 years in duration. (3) District capacity taken into account In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into account the resources and capacity of each local educational agency that applies for a grant. (d) Applications A local educational agency that desires to receive a grant under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Priority In awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to grant proposals that— (1) demonstrate— (A) that a partnership among the local educational agency and business, industry, labor, or institutions of higher education, where appropriate to the grant project, exists and will participate in carrying out grant activities under this Act; (B) innovative and sustainable design; (C) a curriculum aligned with State diploma requirements; (D) a focus on preparing students, including special populations and nontraditional students, with opportunities to explore careers and skills required for jobs in their State and that provide high wages and are in demand; (E) a method of evaluating success; and (F) that the programs to be assisted with grant funds are not receiving assistance under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq. (2) include an assurance that— (A) the local educational agency will fund the operational costs of the activities described in this Act after the grant period expires; and (B) if the local educational agency charges a fee to participate in the after school and summer components of the career and technical education exploration program to be carried out by the agency, the agency will implement such fee on a sliding scale according to income and established in a manner that makes participation financially feasible for all students. (f) Uses of funds (1) In general A local educational agency that receives a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to carry out any of the following: (A) Leasing, purchasing, upgrading, or adapting equipment related to the content of career and technical education exploration program activities. (B) Program director, instructor, or other staff expenses to coordinate or implement program activities. (C) Consultation services with a direct alignment to the program goals. (D) Support of professional development programs aligned to the program goals. (E) Minor remodeling, if any, necessary to accommodate new equipment obtained pursuant to subparagraph (A). (F) Evaluating the access to career and technical education exploration programs and the impact such programs have on the transition to career and technical programs of study (as described in section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(A) (2) Use and ownership of materials or equipment Any materials or equipment purchased with grant funds awarded under this Act shall be the property of the local educational agency. (3) Administrative costs A local educational agency that receives a grant under this Act may use not more than 5 percent of the grant funds for administrative costs associated with carrying out activities under this Act. (g) Evaluations (1) In general A local educational agency that receives a grant under this Act shall develop an evaluation plan of grant activities that shall include an evaluation of specific outcomes, described in paragraph (2), and progress toward meeting such outcomes within the timeline of the grant that shall be measurable through collection of appropriate data or documented through other records. Such evaluation shall reflect the resources and capacity of the local educational agency. (2) Outcomes The specific outcomes shall clearly address the following areas: (A) The extent of student participation in career and technical education exploration programs. (B) Improved rigor in technical or academic content aligned to diploma requirements and industry recognized technical standards. (C) Improved alignment between career and technical education and other courses, including core academic subjects. (D) The impact such programs have on the transition to career and technical programs of study (as described in section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(A) (3) Submission to the department A local educational agency that receives a grant under this Act shall submit evaluations conducted under this subsection to the Secretary. (h) Supplement not supplant Funds received under this Act shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this Act. (i) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $20,000,000.

Summary: Building Understanding, Investment, Learning, and Direction Career and Technical Education Act of 2015 or the BUILD Career and Technical Education Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive two-year grants to local educational agencies to support career and technical education exploration programs that provide middle and high school students with experiential learning opportunities that are connected to their education and career pathways. Grant funds must be used for: (1) leasing, purchasing, upgrading, or adapting equipment related to program activities; (2) staff expenses in coordinating or implementing program activities; (3) consultation services that are directly aligned to program goals; (4) professional development programs that are aligned to program goals; (5) minor remodeling to accommodate program equipment; and/or (6) program evaluation. The bill requires each grantee to develop a plan to evaluate specified outcomes.