CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
[Authorized: NDCC Section 15-20.1-02]
Supervision of vocational education in North Dakota has been the responsibility of various state educational/governmental bodies. In response to the availability of federal funds to finance vocational education programs, the State Legislature designated the State Board of Education to serve as the State Board for Vocational Education (S. L. 1919, Ch. 203). During the same legislative session, legislation creating the Board of Administration dissolved the State Board of Education and required the Board of Administration to assume the duties of the State Board of Education. Thus, the Board of Administration acted as the State Board for Vocational Education. Serving as the State Board for Vocational Education, the Board of Administration was responsible for promotion of vocational education in the state, formulation of vocational education programs and assisting communities in establishing them, and certification of vocational education teachers. The Board of Administration appointed the director of vocational education to head the program.
Legislation in 1921 allowed the Board of Administration to accept federal funds to finance vocational rehabilitation programs in the state (S. L. 1921, Ch. 115). Under direction of the director of vocational education, the state vocational education program sought to promote and aid in the establishment of vocational training schools for disabled persons in the state. In 1947 the State Board of Higher Education was designated the State Board for Vocational Education (S.L. 1947, Ch. 169) and had the responsibility for administration of vocational education and vocational rehabilitation programs in North Dakota. The vocational rehabilitation division remained under the jurisdiction of the State Board for Vocational Education until 1973 (S. L. 1973, Ch. 383) when it was placed under the Social Service Board of North Dakota. Another re-organization occurred in 1955 and required the State Board of Public School Education to assume the duties of the State Board for Vocational Education. The Board consisted of the Governor as chairman, the Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, a member named by president of the North Dakota Education Association, and a member named by the President of the North Dakota School Officers Association (S. L. 1955, Ch. 132).
Legislation in 1975 provided for the multidistrict vocational education centers made up of three or more school districts. The center boards consisted of no less than five members with school board members from each school district making up the board (S. L. 1975, Ch. 143). The multidistrict vocational education centers allowed school districts to offer more vocational programs to students. In 1981 a post-secondary vocational education agreement was made between Minnesota and the State Board for Vocational Education (S. L. 1981, Ch.179). The State Board for Vocational Education made the agreement with the Minnesota higher education coordinating board and the governing board of any public post-secondary vocational technical institute to enable the reciprocal basis.
The State Board for Vocational Education was to administer vocational and technical programs for high school students and persons needing vocational training. Vocational education programs offered through the Board were in the areas of agriculture, industry, trades, home economics, distributive education and marketing, and office occupations. This also included support services in vocational guidance. The State Board for Vocational Education was given the authority to license all private, trade, industrial, vocational, technical, business, or correspondence schools in the state.
Legislation eliminated the State Board for Vocational Education in 1993 (S. L. 1993, Ch. 62) and replaced it with the State Board for Vocational and Technical Education. The requirements of the Board remained the same with the director being appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction with approval from the State Board of Public School Education.
In meeting its responsibilities, the Board worked with all education agencies in planning, conducting, and evaluating their vocational education programs. Beyond ensuring high school students could have vocational education opportunities, the Board developed vocational technical training programs in cooperation with the State Board of Higher Education and the state's postsecondary institutions. To assist adults in upgrading skills or in retraining for employment, the Board was to offer such programs as small business management education and farm business management.
The 1997 legislation removed language that indicated that the State Board for Vocational and Technical Education was the same as the State Board for Public School Education. The State Board for Vocational and Technical Education consisted of the members of the State Board of Public School Education, the executive director of Job Services North Dakota, and the commissioner of Higher Education or designee (S. L. 1997, Ch. 49). The director and executive officer were appointed by the Board, thereby replacing the Superintendent of Public Instruction from naming the director, executive officer, and other personnel in vocational and technical education.
In 2003 the name of the State Board for Vocational and Technical Education was changed to the State Board for Career and Technical Education. The Governor appointed members to the Board (S. L. 2003, Ch. 138). Along with the name change of the Board, a Department of Career and Technical Education was created as a component of the state education system. The Department included the director and other staff appointed by the Board. The Board also reviewed and approved of the budget for the Department and approved the appointment of personnel, and it reviewed accreditation of all vocational and technical schools and career and technology programs offered and provided authorization to operate all private post-secondary institutions.
CHRONOLOGY
1919 North Dakota accepted the provisions of a Congressional act for funding and promoting of vocational education. The State Board of Education was designated the State Board for Vocational Education (S. L. 1919, Ch. 203). Creation of the Board of Administration assumed responsibility for vocational education in the state.
1921 A Congressional act provided federal funds for vocational rehabilitation programs. The Board of Administration accepted the provisions (S. L. 1921, Ch. 115).
1947 The State Board of Higher Education was designated the State Board for Vocational Education. The Board appointed a state director and an executive officer for vocational education who implemented and regulated programs (S. L. 1947, Ch. 169). Programs included agricultural trade, industrial, home economics, distributive and occupational education.
1955 The State Board of Public School Education assumed the duties of the State Board for Vocational Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction appointed the director and executive officer (S. L. 1955, Ch.132). Vocational education subjects in high schools were defined by the funding from federal legislation programs.
1968 The North Dakota State Advisory Council for Vocational Education was created to advise the State Board for Vocational Education on the administration of the state's vocational education program. It consisted of at least twenty members appointed by the Governor. The North Dakota State Advisory Council for Vocational Education was to provide advice and assistance to the State Board for Vocational Education with planning vocational education programs in North Dakota and to evaluate the state's vocational education programs and assess future needs for vocational education in the state [P. L. 90-576].
1969 Legislation defined the executive officer and the director of the State Board for Vocational Education as the same person (S. L. 1969, Ch. 165).
1973 The vocational rehabilitation division was transferred from the State Board of Public Education to the Social Service Board of North Dakota (S. L. 1973, Ch. 383).
1975 Multidistrict vocational educations centers were established by agreements between three or more participating school districts. The school boards from each of the multidistrict centers consisted of at least one school board member from within the school district. The qualifications for an appointment of a member were listed and the responsibilities were specified (S. L. 1975, Ch. 143).
1981 Innovative science and technology programs were required in order to get funding for students from kindergarten to grade twelve (S. L. 1981, Ch. 18). Authorization for a post-secondary vocational education agreement with Minnesota started in July 1982 (S. L. 1981, Ch. 179). School districts could levy a tax to fund contracted employees (S. L. 1981, Ch. 197).
1993 The State Board for Vocational Education was replaced by the State Board for Vocational and Technical Education. Emphasis was on an agricultural curriculum and activities for kindergarten through grade twelve (S. L. 1993, Ch. 62).
1997 The State Board of Public Education was replaced by the State Board for Vocational and Technical Education. New State Board for Vocational and Technical Education members included the executive director of Job Services North Dakota, member of the State Board of Public School Education, and the commissioner of Higher Education. The Board was to coordinate new and existing farm management programs S. L. 1997, Ch. 49). The Board no longer acted through the Office of the Department of Public Instruction.
1999 Additional duties for the members of the State Board for Vocational and Technical Education included the creating and expanding of marketing clubs as adjuncts to new and existing farm management programs (S. L. 1999, Ch. 163).
2003 The name of the State Board for Vocational and Technical Education changed to the State Board for Career and Technical Education. A Department of Career and Technical Education was created (S. L. 2003, Ch. 138).
2007 The North Dakota Elementary Student Entrepreneurship Program under authority of the State Board for Career and Technical Education was created (S. L. 2007, Ch. 19).
2009 The Board of Higher Education was required to report annually on the number of academic scholarships provided for career and technical education (S. L. 2009, Ch. 31).
2011 Legislation was related to grants for innovations (S. L. 2011, Ch. 122).
2011-2013 Additional information on career and technical education is available in the 2011-2013 issue of the North Dakota Blue Book.
SERIES
30818 Vocational Education. Subject Files.
30819 Local and Area Vocational and Technical Program Evaluations.
30863 North Dakota State Advisory Council for Vocational Education Minutes.
31604 Vocational Education. Industrial Arts Photographs.
32451 Private Career Schools, Closed School Files
SOURCES
Gray, David P. Guide to North Dakota State Archives, 1983.
North Dakota Century Code.
North Dakota Division of Vocational Rehabilitation website.
North Dakota Secretary of State Blue Book.
North Dakota State Legislature Session Laws.
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