The recently amended Carl Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (Perkins III) directs the Secretary of Education to conduct an "independent evaluation and assessment of vocational and technical education programs under this Act" and appoint an independent advisory panel to advise the Secretary on the implementation of the assessment. A congressionally-mandated final report summarizing all studies and analyses that relate to the assessment will be available in early 2003.

The Perkins Act operates in the larger framework of education and workforce development policies at all levels of government. The National Assessment of Vocational Education focuses on the role of vocational education in this larger context, in addition to the traditional issues of Perkins management and administration.

The Advisory Panel has two major functions:

1. Advise the Department of Education on how to conduct the Assessment, and

2. Submit its own analysis and recommendations to Congress.

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