Federal Legislation Relating to School-to-Work Transition

The following federal legislation has called for integration of academic and vocational education:

• The 1990 Amendments to the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act require that federal funding for vocational education be spent in programs that "integrate academic and vocational education ... so that students achieve both academic and occupational competencies" (cited in Grubb, 1992, p. 36).

• The Goals 2000: Educate America Act of 1994 calls for states to coordinate school-to-work strategies, such as integration of academic and vocational education, with their school reform efforts.

• The National Skills Standards Act of 1994 promotes the development of occupational skill standards, which can be used by schools as a framework to design curricula that integrate academic and vocational learning in occupational contexts.

• The School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 calls for integration of academic and vocational education for all students by providing an opportunity for states and localities to access federal funds to develop and establish statewide school-to-work systems.

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