Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 7, 1 Iulai 1985 — Vocational Education Grants Given Airings [ARTICLE]

Vocational Education Grants Given Airings

Public forums on the federal Vocational Education and Library Services and Construction grants were held throughout the state in June. Its purpose was to inform the Hawaiian communities of the over $2 million in grants available and to solicit ideas and reactions to the Voc Ed plaris, developed by an advisory panel from the Governor's office. Among those on the panel were representatives from Alu Like, The Kamehameha Schools, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. In 1984, Hawaiians were included in the program as a special target group for the first time. Governor George R. Ariyoshi and the panel named Alu Like as the agency to receive and administer the funds through a contract with the U.S. Department of Education. Alu Like will then subcontract to qualified organizations, such as community colleges, the State Department of Education, The Kamehameha Schools and community-based organizations. Alu Like's role, therefore, is administrative, management and direct fiscal accountability to the federal government. Subcontractors will be responsible for program implementation; that is, activities such as actual vocational education training, guidance and counseling and provision of library services. Alu Like will decide on allocations to subcontractors based on the vocational education and library services plans for Hawaiians. The plans contain an assesSment of the vocational training and library services needs of Hawaiians and comments and suggestions received from the Governor's special panel. Comments made at the community forums are also to be incorporated into the plans before being submitted to the federal DOE for review and approval by August or September, 1985. The plan will specify what kind of activities will be funded. It is anticipated funding will be received 30 to 60 days following submittal of the plan.