1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Perkins Modernization Act of 2014”.
Perkins Modernization Act of 2014
A BILL
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to improve the Act.
2. Purposes
Section 2 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301) is amended—
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”;
by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (6); and
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.”
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.”
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”.
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—
in paragraph (2)(B)(iii)(II)—
by striking “high skill, high wage occupations (including those in which mathematics and science skills are critical)”; and
by inserting “in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “employment in”; and
in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(V)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand business and industry”; and
by inserting “in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “ occupations in”.
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”.
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—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting “and careers in in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “in postsecondary education”;
in subparagraph (H)—
by striking “entry into high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations in current or emerging occupations”; and
by inserting “for employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “or”; and
in subparagraph (I)(iii)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations”; and
by inserting “in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “in”;
in paragraph (4), by inserting “or into employment in an in-demand industry sector or occupation” after “institutions of higher education”;
in paragraph (9)(C)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations”; and
by inserting “employment in an in-demand industry sector or occupation” after “further learning and for”; and
in paragraph (18)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations and non-traditional fields”; and
by inserting “employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “for”.
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—
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (1)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations”; and
by inserting “employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “for”;
in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting “, equipment,” after “internships”;
in paragraph (5)—
by striking “high skill, high wage occupations”; and
by inserting “employment opportunities in in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “to”;
in paragraph (8)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand”; and
by inserting “employment in in-demand industry sectors or” after “to”; and
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.”
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1)—
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
in subparagraph (B)—
by striking “high skill, high wage occupations and non-traditional fields”; and
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
in paragraph (9)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations”; and
by inserting “employment opportunities in in-demand industry sectors or occupations” after “for”.
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”.
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—
in subsection (b)(9)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand”; and
by inserting “employment opportunities in in-demand industry sectors or” after “for”; and
in subsection (c)(12)—
by striking “high skill, high wage, or high demand”; and
by inserting “employment opportunities in in-demand industry sectors or” after “technically for”.