780 KAR 4:010. General standards.

      RELATES TO: KRS 151B.025(3), (6), 151B.145, 20 U.S.C. 2391-2415, EO 2000-990

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 151B.025(3), (6), 151B.145, EO 2000-990

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 151B.145 accepts the federal laws relating to vocational education. 20 USC 2391 through 2415 establish the general provisions for receipt of federal funds for vocational and technical education activities. EO 2000-990 authorizes the commissioner to implement the federal programs accepted by KRS 151B.145 and to promulgate necessary administrative regulations. KRS 151B.025(3) and (6) establishes program standard responsibilities for secondary vocational-technical programs. This administrative regulation establishes the broad, general standards for all vocational-technical education programs to qualify for federal funding.

      Section 1. Vocational-technical education programs shall be designed to serve secondary students. Instructional programs shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sex, or disability.

      Section 2. Vocational-technical instruction shall be provided within the following program areas: agriculture, business and office technology, health and personal services, home economics, industrial technology education, marketing, environmental education, special vocational-technical programs, and other program areas designed to meet emerging technologies and the needs of business and industry.

      Section 3. The instruction shall be designed to accomplish one (1) or more of the following objectives:

      (1) Prepare individuals for employment in skilled or technical occupations;

      (2) Prepare individuals for transition from education and training to work;

      (3) Assist individuals in making meaningful occupational choices;

      (4) Upgrade and update individuals in their present occupations; or

      (5) Retrain existing workers.

      Section 4. The content of instruction in vocational-technical education programs shall:

      (1) Be based on a consideration of the skills, attitude, and knowledge required to achieve the objectives of instruction and include a planned sequence of those essentials of education or experience (or both) deemed necessary for the individual to achieve objectives;

      (2) Be developed and conducted in consultation with potential employers and other individuals having skills and substantive knowledge of the occupation or the occupational fields included in instruction;

      (3) Include the most up-to-date technology and skills necessary for competencies required to meet the objectives of instruction; and

      (4) Be sufficiently extensive in duration and intensive within a scheduled unit of time to enable the student to achieve the objectives of instruction.

      Section 5. The vocational-technical program of instruction shall coordinate classroom instruction with field, laboratory, cooperative work, or other work-based experience which:

      (1) Is appropriate to the objectives of instruction;

      (2) Is of sufficient duration to develop competencies necessary for the student to achieve those objectives; and

      (3) Is supervised, directed, or coordinated by persons qualified as determined by the State Board for Adult and Technical Education in cooperation with the Kentucky Board of Education.

      Section 6. Recognized vocational student organizations and leadership activities shall be an integral part of the instructional program and shall be supervised by qualified vocational education personnel.

      Section 7. Each program shall have an active advisory committee, as required by 780 KAR 2:030, Section 4.

      Section 8. Assessment of the vocational-technical education programs shall be conducted in accordance with requirements and instruments approved by the Department for Technical Education. The Commissioner for the Department for Technical Education shall designate the records and reports to be kept by local educational agencies operating approved vocational-technical education programs. Staff from the Department for Technical Education or the Department of Education shall make periodic evaluation visits for program improvement purposes.

      Section 9. If applicable, all vocational-technical education programs shall operate according to guidelines developed by state or national licensure, certification, and registration agencies having jurisdiction over graduates who seek employment in occupations governed by those agencies.

      Section 10. The facilities for any vocational-technical education program shall be of adequate size and designed to accommodate the activities and number of work stations unique to each program. Classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other facilities, including instructional equipment, supplies, teaching aids, and other materials, shall be provided in quantity and quality to meet the objectives in the vocational-technical instruction. Facilities and equipment shall be approved by the Commissioner for the Department for Technical Education in cooperation with the Commissioner for the Department of Education or designee.

      Section 11. Programs offered by any eligible recipient of federal funds shall be disapproved if program requirements are not met or provisions of the Kentucky State Plan for Vocational-Technical Education are not met. (17 Ky.R. 751; eff. 10-14-90; Am. 22 Ky.R. 369; 731; eff. 10-5-95; 26 Ky.R. 2324; 27 Ky.R. 964; eff. 10-16-2000.)