Section 254.390  Approval of Applications

a)         Only those applications which are submitted in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Subpart will be considered for funding by the State Board of Education.  Consideration of eligible recipients' plans for funding purposes will result in the assignment of an approval status for each such plan.  Approval of the general plan does not constitute approval for funding purposes of all or particular segments of the plan or of programs and courses detailed in the plan.  Individual programs set forth in the application will be considered for approval on the basis of the following:

1)         program responsiveness to the changing nature of the labor market, to technological advances, to the changing characteristics of the work force, and to the academic, technical, and attitudinal development of their students;

2)         demonstrated need for the program documented by local employment needs by state or regional labor market information;

3)         student interest in the program documented by student interest surveys or by actual student enrollments;

4)         program content based upon occupational task lists disseminated by the State Board of Education and verified or modified locally to meet specific regional needs;

5)         available instructional resources, i.e. qualified personnel, facilities, equipment, instructional materials, and other resources necessary for instruction based upon the program content;

6)         program length which provides the necessary hours of instruction based upon the program content; and for continued approval,

7)         program administration and operation in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including this Part.

b)         Assignment of an approved status to a general plan for vocational education is contingent upon each and all of the following:

1)         submission of a complete plan which meets the requirements set forth in this Subpart;

2)         evidence of the existence of a technical advisory committee which has provided input into the development of such plan; and

3)         inclusion in such plan of written reactions to each recommendation resulting from any on-site visitation conducted by the State Board of Education during the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the plan is submitted.

c)         Plans which meet all of the conditions prescribed in subsection (b) will be assigned an approved status.

d)         Plans which do not meet each of the conditions prescribed for the assignment of an approved status set forth in subsection (b) will be assigned a not approved status.

e)         Each applicant agency which submits a plan for vocational education in accordance with requirements set forth in this Subpart will receive a Status of Plan Report.

f)         A copy of the Status of Plan Report will be mailed to the designated transmittal officer by the State Board of Education.

g)         Additional information requested of the applicant agency on the Status of Plan Report shall be forwarded directly to the State Board of Education, within 30 days of receipt of the Status Report.

(Source:  Amended at 13 Ill. Reg. 8459, effective May 22, 1989)