20 U.S.C. § 2394

Current through P.L. 118-64 (published on www.congress.gov on 05/24/2024), except for [P. L. 118-63]
Section 2394 - Voluntary selection and participation

No funds made available under this chapter shall be used-

(1) to require any secondary school student to choose or pursue a specific career pathway or program of study; or
(2) to mandate that any individual participate in a career and technical education program, including a career and technical education program that requires the attainment of a federally funded skill level, standard, or certificate of mastery.

20 U.S.C. § 2394

Pub. L. 88-210, title II, §214, formerly title III, §314, as added Pub. L. 109-270, §1(b), Aug. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 743; renumbered title II, §214, and amended Pub. L. 115-224, title II, §201(a)(2), (5), (6), July 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 1621.

EDITORIAL NOTES

PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 2394, Pub. L. 88-210, title III, §314, as added Pub. L. 105-332, §1(b), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3123, related to voluntary selection and participation, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 109-270. Another prior section 2394 and prior sections 2394a to 2394e were omitted in the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 105-332. Section 2394, Pub. L. 88-210, title III, §342, as added Pub. L. 101-392, title III, §308, Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 789, stated findings and purpose of Congress.Section 2394a, Pub. L. 88-210, title III, §343, as added Pub. L. 101-392, title III, §308, Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 789; amended Pub. L. 102-103, title III, §315, Aug. 17, 1991, 105 Stat. 508, authorized grants for tech-prep education programs.Section 2394b, Pub. L. 88-210, title III, §344, as added Pub. L. 101-392, title III, §308, Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 790; amended Pub. L. 103-239, title VII, §711(a), May 4, 1994, 108 Stat. 606, related to use of grant funds. Section 2394c, Pub. L. 88-210, title III, §345, as added Pub. L. 101-392, title III, §308, Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 791; amended Pub. L. 103-239, title VII, §711(b), May 4, 1994, 108 Stat. 606, related to applications for grants.Section 2394d, Pub. L. 88-210, title III, §346, as added Pub. L. 101-392, title III, §308, Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 792, related to reports.Section 2394e, Pub. L. 88-210, title III, §347, as added Pub. L. 101-392, title III, §308, Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 792; amended Pub. L. 105-244, title I, §102(a)(6)(E), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1618, defined terms for purposes of tech-prep education grant program.

AMENDMENTS2018-Par. (1). Pub. L. 115-224, §201(a)(2), substituted "career pathway or program of study" for "career path or major".

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115-224 effective July 1, 2019, see section 4 of Pub. L. 115-224 set out as a note under section 2301 of this title.

SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 88-210, title III, §341, as added by Pub. L. 101-392, title III, §308, Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 788, which provided that part E of title III of Pub. L. 88-210 enacting part E (§2394 et seq.) of former subchapter III of this chapter, could be cited as the "Tech-Prep Education Act", was omitted in the general amendment of Pub. L. 88-210 by Pub. L. 105-332, §1(b), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3076.

career and technical education
The term "career and technical education" means organized educational activities that-(A) offer a sequence of courses that-(i) provides individuals with rigorous academic content and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions, which may include high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations, which shall be, at the secondary level, aligned with the challenging State academic standards adopted by a State under section 6311(b)(1) of this title;(ii) provides technical skill proficiency or a recognized postsecondary credential, which may include an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and(iii) may include prerequisite courses (other than a remedial course) that meet the requirements of this subparagraph;(B) include competency-based, work-based, or other applied learning that supports the development of academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an industry, including entrepreneurship, of an individual;(C) to the extent practicable, coordinate between secondary and postsecondary education programs through programs of study, which may include coordination through articulation agreements, early college high school programs, dual or concurrent enrollment program opportunities, or other credit transfer agreements that provide postsecondary credit or advanced standing; and(D) may include career exploration at the high school level or as early as the middle grades (as such term is defined in section 7801 of this title).
program of study
The term "program of study" means a coordinated, nonduplicative sequence of academic and technical content at the secondary and postsecondary level that-(A) incorporates challenging State academic standards, including those adopted by a State under section 6311(b)(1) of this title;(B) addresses both academic and technical knowledge and skills, including employability skills;(C) is aligned with the needs of industries in the economy of the State, region, Tribal community, or local area;(D) progresses in specificity (beginning with all aspects of an industry or career cluster and leading to more occupation-specific instruction);(E) has multiple entry and exit points that incorporate credentialing; and(F) culminates in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential.