The NET project is committed to preparing students for the 21st century workforce through the promotion of gender neutral educational strategies and practices.
The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act (Perkins) was originally authorized in 1984, and most recently reauthorized in August of 2006. The purpose of Perkins is to provide individuals with the academic and technical skills needed to succeed in a knowledge- and skills-based economy. Perkins supports career and technical education that prepares its students both for postsecondary education and the careers of their choice.
A focus of the 1984 act was to support opportunities for female students to prepare for "nontraditional careers". This was accomplished through the reservation of funds specifically for gender equity activities at the state and local level. In the 1990 reauthorization states were required to reserve 7% of the basic state grant for programming targeted to single parents, displaced homemakers and single pregnant women. Another 3% was reserved for programs to eliminate sex bias and stereotyping in vocational education. Many innovative and successful programs were developed in New York State with the reserved funds.
The 1998 Perkins Act eliminated the gender equity reserves and replaced them with a number of provisions at the state and local level designed to encourage the integration of gender equity goals and activities throughout the career and technical education (CTE) programs. The NET Project is committed to supporting that effort through the provision of resources, technical assistance, and staff development to career and technical education programs, secondary and postsecondary, throughout the state.
For more information on the Carl D. Perkins Act visit:
www.acteonline.org
www.aauw.org
www.napequity.org
www.womenwork.org