A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n
The Emergence of Tech-Prep at the State and Local Levels - 1995
State Agencies Involved in Promoting and Funding Tech-Prep
Tech-Prep has the potential to stimulate partnerships at the local consortium level, and can also promote collaborative efforts at the state level, where agencies representing different segments of the education system may share responsibility for Tech-Prep. Which agencies take the lead in Tech-Prep, the degree of agency staff participation in Tech-Prep activities, and the source and levels of funding for state-level activities may affect the progress of implementation in each state. The designated sole state agency plays the major role in Tech-Prep development
The sole state agency takes the lead in most aspects of Tech-Prep planning and implementation. Most of the sole state agencies had primary responsibility for administration of Title IIIE grants in fall 1993; in 41 states, this agency took the lead in soliciting consortium grant applications, reviewing the applications, and awarding grants. More than 40 state coordinators reported that the sole state agency had primary responsibility for at least one of several other important tasks: (1) promoting awareness of and interest in Tech-Prep statewide; (2) monitoring and evaluating the progress of local Tech-Prep programs; and/or (3) preparing performance reports to the federal government. In 34 states, the sole state agency had primary responsibility for planning or leading staff development conferences/workshops for consortium members.
In five states, the sole state agency had no role or played only a supporting role in soliciting and reviewing grant applications or awarding funds; these responsibilities were primarily delegated to another agency. In some states (California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin), an agency other than the sole state agency appears to be leading or sharing lead responsibility for state-level Tech-Prep efforts.
Tech-Prep also involves other agencies at the state-level
Although the sole state agencies play a lead role, most states involve multiple agencies in the development of Tech-Prep. Tech-Prep coordinators in 35 of the 52 states reported that more than one agency was responsible for aspects of Tech-Prep planning and implementation, including fiscal matters, policymaking, monitoring, and technical assistance to local consortia. In 25 of these 35 states, two agencies shared responsibility for Tech-Prep development; in the other 10 states, three or more agencies were involved.
State departments of education play the primary role in administering Tech-Prep. In 33 states, the department of education was named as the sole state agency. In six states, an agency responsible for postsecondary education, such as the state technical college system or board for community and technical colleges, was designated as the sole state agency. In the remaining 13 states this agency was a board, division, or commission of vocational, technical, and/or adult education. In seven states in which some other agency was named as the sole state agency, the department of education was listed as a participating agency.
With the exception of the six postsecondary education agencies, all of the sole state agencies are responsible for secondary vocational education and, in 37 states, for academic education as well. Thirty-five sole state agencies oversee two-year postsecondary education--either in addition to secondary education or as their sole responsibility; 17 of the 35 are responsible for vocational/occupational programs only, and 18 are responsible for both academic and vocational two-year postsecondary education.
Agencies generally devote some staff time specifically to Tech-Prep
Virtually all of the agencies responsible for state-level Tech-Prep activities committed staff time to these activities during FY 1993. The sole state agencies of every state except Hawaii devoted staff resources to Tech-Prep; Hawaii delegated primary oversight of Tech-Prep to two other state agencies, both of which contributed staff time. In 33 of the 35 states in which multiple agencies were involved in Tech-Prep, each participating agency contributed staff time.
The amount of staff resources that agencies in different states devoted to Tech-Prep varied widely (Table II.1). In the fall 1993 survey, total reported staff resources ranged from 10 percent of one person-year in Wyoming to more than 13 person-years in Missouri. Thirteen states devoted less than one person year to Tech-Prep, and 26 states devoted between one and three person-years. Coordinators in five states (Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin) each reported more than five person-years of total staff resources. In all but nine states, the sole state agency devoted more staff resources to Tech-Prep than did the other agencies involved.
TABLE II.1
Staff Time Dedicated To Tech-Prep And Percentage Of Title IIIE Funds Retained By State Agencies In FY 1993
|
| State | Staff Time Dedicated to
Tech-Prep in FY 1993
(Person-years) | Percentage of Title IIIE
Funds Retained by State
Agencies in FY1993 |
|
| Alabama | 1.50 | 0.00 |
| Alaska | 1.20 | 0.00 |
| Arizona | 1.10 | 5.52 |
| Arkansas | 0.86 | 0.00 |
| California | 4.00 | 0.00 |
| Colorado | 1.00 | 0.00 |
| Connecticut | 0.95 | 4.05 |
| Delaware | 12.00 | 8.00 |
| District of Columbia | 2.17 | 0.00 |
| Florida | 1.00 | 6.27 |
| Georgia | 1.10 | 0.00 |
| Hawaii | 3.60 | 0.00 |
| Idaho | 1.00 | 17.71 |
| Illinois | 6.70 | 4.55 |
| Indiana | 4.00 | 5.71 |
| Iowa | 9.20 | 0.00 |
| Kansas | 2.50 | 16.28 |
| Kentucky | 1.00 | 4.17 |
| Louisiana | 1.00 | 3.72 |
| Maine | 0.75 | 0.00 |
| Maryland | 2.55 | 8.27 |
| Massachusetts | 2.20 | 6.15 |
| Michigan | 1.50 | 2.12 |
| Minnesota | 1.50 | 3.08 |
| Mississippi | 2.00 | 0.00 |
| Missouri | 13.30 | 0.00 |
| Montana | 0.40 | 0.00 |
| Nebraska | 0.75 | 5.00 |
| Nevada | 0.50 | 0.00 |
| New Hampshire | 0.75 | 0.00 |
| New Jersey | 2.50 | 0.00 |
| New Mexico | 1.00 | 0.00 |
| New York | 4.00 | 4.96 |
| North Carolina | 0.95 | 1.79 |
| North Dakota | 1.02 | 0.00 |
| Ohio | 2.60 | 1.33 |
| Oklahoma | 4.50 | 0.00 |
| Oregon | 0.45 | 7.39 |
| Pennsylvania | 1.00 | 4.88 |
| Rhode Island | 2.50 | 16.15 |
| South Carolina | 4.30 | 9.35 |
| South Dakota | 2.80 | 0.00 |
| Tennessee | 1.50 | 28.82 |
| Texas | 4.00 | 1.13 |
| Utah | 0.30 | 1.38 |
| Vermont | 0.60 | 9.30 |
| Virginia | 0.90 | 15.36 |
| Washington | 1.13 | 4.90 |
| West Virginia | 2.00 | 5.42 |
| Wisconsin | 7.40 | 31.83 |
| Wyoming | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Puerto Rico | 4.30 | NA |
|
SOURCE: Inventory of State-Level Tech-Prep Activities, fall 1993
NOTE: NA means not available
Title IIIE funds available for FY 1993 include both the federal Title IIIE allotment for that year and any unspent Title IIIE funds carried over from the previous year.
States retain varying portions of Title IIIE funds to cover state-level Tech-Prep administration and support
Although states are required under Title IIIE of the Perkins Act to make grants to local consortia, they have the option of retaining some Title IIIE funds for use at the state level. Retained funds may be used directly by the sole state agency--for administration, technical assistance, and other functions--or be reallocated for use by other state agencies that share Tech-Prep responsibilities. In 30 states, the sole state agency, which receives and generally distributes Title IIIE funds, reported retaining some funds in FY 1993 either for its own use or for distribution to other state agencies (Table II.1). In FY 1994, sole state agencies in 34 states retained some Title IIIE funds. States that did not retain Title IIIE funds for use at the state level appear to have supported their Tech-Prep roles in two ways. Some states may have explicitly appropriated state funds to cover Tech-Prep administration, monitoring, and technical assistance. Other state agencies may simply have assigned existing staff to take on Tech-Prep roles as part of their ongoing job responsibilities.
States that retained some Title IIIE funds for state-level Tech-Prep activities generally kept only a small portion. In FY 1993, 24 of the 30 states retaining funds reserved less than 10 percent of the total amount available.2 Only two states retained more than 25 percent of the Title IIIE funds available.
Sources other than Title IIIE may provide funding for Tech-Prep
Some states allocate funding for Tech-Prep development from sources other than Title IIIE, including state budgets, other parts of the Perkins Act, other federal programs, business and industry, or foundations. Agencies in 15 states received funds for Tech-Prep from at least one of these sources, usually, state budgets (Table II.2).3 Twelve states designated an average of $1,440,043 in state funds for Tech-Prep. Five states (Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, South Carolina, and Washington) allocated funds specifically for Tech-Prep from other Perkins Act funding. Agencies in Rhode Island and Massachusetts received funding from non-Perkins federal programs. Only Massachusetts received funds ($200,000) from other sources, such as business and industry or foundations.
TABLE II.2
Funding For Tech-Prep From Non-Title IIIE Sources, By State And Funding Source, For FY 1994(In Dollars)
|
| State | Other Perkins
Act Funds | Non-Perkins
Federal Funds | State Funds | Other Sources |
|
| Connecticut | -- | -- | 21,000 | -- |
| Delaware | -- | -- | 160,000 | -- |
| Illinois | -- | -- | 3,025,000 | -- |
| Indiana | 239,815 | -- | 445,513 | -- |
| Massachusetts | 800,000 | 695,000 | -- | 200,000 |
| Mississippi | -- | -- | 300,000 | -- |
| New Jersey | -- | -- | 900,000 | -- |
| North Carolina | -- | -- | 125,000 | -- |
| Nevada | 18,000 | -- | -- | -- |
| Oregon | -- | -- | 1,800,000 | -- |
| Rhode Island | -- | 313,000 | -- | -- |
| South Carolina | 1,860,051 | -- | 8,000,000 | -- |
| Washington | 54,000 | -- | 1,814,000 | -- |
| West Virginia | -- | -- | 5,000 | -- |
| Wisconsin | -- | -- | 640,000 | -- |
|
SOURCE: Inventory of State-Level Tech-Prep Activities, fall 1993
Some state agencies share Title IIIE funding for Tech-Prep
In a small number of states, more than one member of the state-level Tech-Prep team receives Title IIIE funds to administer Tech-Prep. Of the 34 sole state agencies that retained Title IIIE funds at the state level during FY 1994, 11 distributed a portion of these funds to other state agencies involved in Tech-Prep. The sole state agencies in the remaining 23 states retained the funds for their own use in Tech-Prep activities. In 10 of these states, however, the sole state agency was the only agency reportedly involved in Tech-Prep.
Businesses and corporations support many state agencies with guidance and advice
In most states, employers contribute to Tech-Prep development at both the state level and the local level. In 34 states (66 percent), businesses and corporations provide some input to the state-level agencies. For the most part, this private-sector input takes the form of general guidance on Tech-Prep issues and advice on statewide competencies and development of statewide curricula (Figure II.1). Tech-Prep coordinators in seven states reported that businesses and corporations are "very involved" in providing general guidance; coordinators in 25 other states rated the groups as somewhat involved.
2 The total amount of Title IIIE funding available for a given year is equal to sum of the federal Title IIIE allotment to the state plus any unspent Title IIIE funds carried over from the previous year.
3 Data on other sources of funding were collected only for FY 1994. Data on non-Title IIIE funding may be a conservatively low estimate, since some states may pay for expenses related to Tech-Prep out of regular formula-allotted vocational eductation funds, and not explicitly account for them as Tech-Prep expenditures.
-###-
[II. The State Role In Promoting Development Of Tech-Prep] 
![[Table of Contents]](/icons/up.gif)
[Funding of Local Tech-Prep Consortia]