Definitions

In this Act: (1) Career-aligned coursework The term career-aligned coursework means academic and technical content designed for students that— (A) aligns with State academic standards; (B) includes instruction on academic and technical knowledge and skills related to career readiness, including instruction aligned to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations; (C) aligns with the needs of industries in the economy of the State, region, or local community of the student; (D) is designed to progress from content that covers industries and careers broadly to content that covers specific elements of an industry or career; (E) provides multiple entry and exit points that allow students to begin, pause, or resume participation as needed, including mid-program or at transitional points between education and employment; and (F) culminates in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential. (2) Career and technical education The term career and technical education or CTE has the meaning given the term career and technical education in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302). (3) CTE high school The term CTE high school means a public secondary school that provides academic instruction and career and technical education programs, resulting in a regular high school diploma and, where applicable, recognized postsecondary credentials or industry certifications. (4) ESEA Terms The terms local educational agency, secondary school, and State educational agency have the meaning given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (5) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). (6) Junior or community college The term junior or community college has the meaning given the term in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)). (7) Multi-craft construction instruction The term multi-craft construction instruction means training programs that expose students to multiple construction-related trades and crafts (such as concrete and masonry, ventilation and air conditioning, carpentry, or other such combinations of construction trades and crafts) within a single instructional framework, often with pathways into registered apprenticeships. (8) Opportunity youth The term opportunity youth means people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market. (9) Regional career center The term regional career center means a centralized educational facility— (A) that provides career and technical education programs to students enrolled in a secondary school; (B) is operated by a local educational agency, a consortium of local educational agencies, or a State educational agency; and (C) offers academic instruction aligned to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations.