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AFT Resolution

REAUTHORIZATION OF THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACT

Although the federal government provides only a small percentage of the total funding for public vocational education, it has a central role to play in recognizing national priorities and fostering program change and improvement. However, the existing federal Vocational Education Act tries to accomplish many purposes with too few resources. In addition, there is insufficient information available about the way states distribute or otherwise use federal vocational education funds.

The Vocational Education Act will expire in 1985 and the Congress is now considering bills to reauthorize the federal vocational education program. The American Federation of Teachers calls on Congress to:

  • Increase the level of funding.
  • Set aside "substantial" proportions of the funds allocated to each state to provide services for disadvantaged, handicapped, and other underserved groups of students.
  • Mandate that at least 85 percent of the funds allocated to each state must be made available for services at the local level.
  • Require that funds be distributed within each state according to a formula which assures that funds are concentrated in areas of greatest need.
  • Require full accountability by states as to how their allocations of federal funds are distributed or otherwise used.

(1984)

Please note that a newer resolution, or portion of a resolution, may have superseded an earlier resolution on the same subject. As a result, with the exception of resolutions adopted at our most recent AFT convention, resolutions do not necessarily reflect current AFT policies.