1. Federal Legislation Impacting Agricultural Education and Extension: on (Thanks to Gary Moore, NCSU)

2. Post Sputnik Legislation
Legislation affecting Ext. and Ag. Ed. After the 1950s was more complex and convoluted than earlier legislation.
We will discuss only the parts of the acts impacting AgEd or Ext., even though the act may have numerous other components.

3. National Defense Education Act (1958)
This act was passed because of Sputnik
“The Congress finds that an educational emergency exists and requires action by the federal government. Assistance will come from Washington to help develop as rapidly as possible those skills essential to the national defense.”
A major purpose of the act was strengthen the teaching of mathematics, sciences and modern foreign languages

4. National Defense Education Act (1958)
Established a student loan program for college
The George-Barden Act of was amended
Area Vocational Schools were to be built to train “technicians” skilled in math and science
$15 million dollars for the next five years was authorized for this purpose

5. Vocational Education Act of 1963
This was a MAJOR piece of federal legislation. It replaced the Smith-Hughes Act.
Categorical funding for specific vocational disciplines such as agricultural education was abolished.
Funding went to states on the basis of their population in certain age categories
States decided how to spend the money

6. Vocational Education Act of 1963
Expanded the scope of agricultural education to include all areas of agriculture, not just farming.
No longer required “supervised practice on a farm”. The idea was to expand the scope of SAE, not do away with it, but that is what some states did.
Expanded the scope of home economics education to include all areas of home economics, not just homemaking.

7. Vocational Education Act of 1963
Established work study programs for vocational students to provide financial support
States had to submit plans for what they planned to do
Eliminated federal supervision/control of vocational programs
Funding for vocational education was substantially increased

8. Sea Grant Program (1966)
The National Sea Grant College and Program Act
Established a program (under the Dept. of Commerce) to provide for applied research, formal education and extension for development of marine and Great Lake resources. About 2/3 of the states involved have incorporated these activities in the extension service.

9. Educational Amendments (1968)
Amended the 1963 Vocational Education Act
Increased funding for vocational education
Funds could be used for high school programs, people who have left school, retraining, special needs students, construction of area vocational schools, vocational guidance, contracting vocational education with private institutions, ancillary services (research, teacher training) and administering the state plan.

10. Educational Amendments (1968)
Did not categorically fund specific vocational programs, with one exception
Specifically allocated money to Consumer and Homemaking Education
Of the general appropriations to each state
25% had to be spent on disadvantaged populations
25% had to be spent on out-of-school individuals seeking employment
10% had to be spent on handicapped individuals

11. Educational Amendments (1968)
Authorized money for:
Curriculum development (this is the only place agricultural education is mentioned in the act)
Residential vocational schools (schools with dorms)
Research (National Center for Vocational Education Research was established)
Leadership development (selected vocational leaders could get advanced degrees)

12. Rural Development Act (1972)
Title V impacted Extension
Authorized rural development and small-farm extension programs
Administration of programs to be part of Extension
Established State Rural Development Advisory Councils

13. Educational Amendments (1976)
The Educational Amendments of 1976 have five Titles, Title II is concerned with vocational education
Authorized more money for vocational education
Purpose of the act was to
extend, improve and maintain programs
overcome come sex discrimination/bias
develop new programs

14. Educational Amendments (1976)
Monies could be spent on vocational education programs, work study, energy education, area school facilities, support sex equity positions, placement services, Industrial Arts (now Technology Education), support services for females in non-traditional programs, day care services, displaced homemakers, residential vocational centers.

15. Educational Amendments (1976)
There were special appropriations for the disadvantaged
Consumer and Homemaking received special funding
Every vocational program had to be evaluated every five years

16. Food and Agriculture Act (1977)
A Major Farm Bill
Authorized $260 million for Extension
Authorized agricultural and forestry extension activities at 1890 institutions
4% of Smith-Lever Funds must go to 1890 institutions
Extension leaders of and 1890 institutions are to develop a comprehensive state-wide plan for extension

17. Food and Agriculture Act (1977)
Added the use of solar energy with respect to agriculture and solar energy demonstration projects
Established a national food and human nutrition research and education program
Required the secretary of agriculture to evaluate the Extension Service by 1979

18. Food and Agriculture Act (1977)
Directed the secretary to assist the Agency for International Development (AID) with agricultural research and extension in developing countries
Established a National Agricultural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board

19. Renewable Resources Extension Act (1978)
Provided for educational programs concentrating on renewable resources, which includes fish and wildlife management, range management, timber management, and watershed management, as well as forest and range- based outdoor recreation, trees and forests in urban areas, and trees and shrubs in shelter belts.

20. Smith-Lever Amendment (1980)
Inserted references to rural energy in Section 2.

21. Agriculture and Food Act (1981)
A Major Farm Bill
Authorized appropriations for Extension programs (including 1890 programs)
Provided for the employment and training of professionals and paraprofessional aides to engage in nutrition education of low-income families.

22. Agriculture and Food Act (1981)
Authorized aquaculture extension work
Authorized rural development programs and small farm extension programs
Authorized the secretary of agriculture to conduct an annual evaluation of agricultural research, extension and teaching programs.

23. Carl Perkins Act (1984)
This was the most significant rewrite of vocational education legislation since 1963.
Two broad themes
Accessibility to all persons
Improve the quality

24. Carl Perkins Act (1984)
Fifty-seven (57) percent of state funds were allocated to special populations - vocational education was to be accessible to everyone
handicapped (10%)
disadvantaged (10%)
adult retraining (12%)
single parents & homemakers (8 1/2%)
sex bias & stereotyping (3 1/2%)
incarcerated (1%)

25. Carl Perkins Act (1984)
Forty-three (43) percent of state funds were allocated for program improvement
funds were not to be used to maintain existing programs
Consumer and Homemaking received special funding but 1/3 had to be spent in economically depressed areas
There will be a full time sex equity coordinator and $60,000 is allocated to that

26. Food Security Act (1985) A major farm bill
Provided grants to upgrade 1890 institutions’ extension facilities
Made several technical amendments to fine tune past farm bills

27. Smith-Lever Amendment (1985)
Added language that the Extension Service give “…instruction and practical demonstrations of existing or improved practices or technologies.”
Authorized Extension to enter into agreements with private organizations and individuals. (in other words extension could accept money from the private sector)
Improve 1890s extension facilities

28. Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act (1990)
A major farm bill
Directed the Extension Service to catalogue the federal, state, and local laws and regulations that govern the handling of unused or unwanted agricultural chemicals and agricultural chemical containers.
Educational materials regarding this were to be developed.

29. Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act (1990)
Charged the Extension Service with teaching composting
Expanded natural resources educational programs
Established a water quality coordination program
Provided for the assistance for the control of weeds and pests

30. Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act (1990)
Expanded EFNEP
Established five regional aquaculture centers for research and Extension activities
Repealed previous solar energy provisions

31. National Forest Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act (1990)
Directed the Extension Service to provide training and educational programs in rural communities that are economically dependent upon forest resources in an attempt to diversify the economic base of the community.

32. Perkins II (1990) The Carl Perkins Act is rewritten
Special populations is still a major focus,
Money can be used to support existing programs
Academic and vocational education was to be integrated
Articulation between secondary and post-secondary institutions

33. National Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Act (1994)
Established extension education programs on Native American reservations
Provided technical assistance and training in subsistence agriculture to Native Americans and Alaskan natives

34. National Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Act (1994)
Provided grants for on-farm education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations.

35. The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act (1994)
Reorganized USDA
Established the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service to coordinate efforts between USDA and the states

36. School-to-Work Opportunities Act (1994)
A variety of programs were established for students to get them more involved with the world of work and post-secondary education
Grants were given to some states to develop programs
This is for all students
Funding is temporary

37. FAIR Act (1996)
Our current farm bill is titled the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act.
Some people call it the Freedom to Farm Act.
Title VIII contains provisions for Research, Extension, and Education
However, because other sections of the bill were so controversial little attention was paid to this section of the bill. Most extension related items were merely extended. However, there were a few new twists.
It contains provisions for extension, but for the first time has language for secondary agricultural education.

38. FAIR Act (1996)
Authority for secondary and 2-year post secondary education in agriscience and agribusiness are added to the Secretary's food and agricultural education authorities
This was an attempt to transfer national leadership for secondary agricultural education to USDA from USDE
It partially succeeded, language is present in the bill authorizing it--but there is no money to do it, so nothing has happened

39. FAIR Act (1996)
Even though the national leadership for agricultural education did not move (one representative in the house effectively blocked the move) a $500,000 challenge grant program to improve secondary agricultural education has been established under authority of the USDA.
USDE provides national leadership for agricultural education but USDA is providing funds to improve the program

40. FAIR Act (1996)
A National Research, Education, and Economics Advisory Board is established. (This 30-member advisory board replaces three separate advisory committees)

41. FAIR Act (1996) There were provisions in the act related to:
Native American extension programs
1890 extension programs
Appropriations for the Extension Service
Other provisions of the Act contain language reducing price supports for many agricultural commodities
The Fund for Rural America was created to enhance community development

42. Perkins III (1996)
This is the legislation vocational education is currently operating under
The purpose of this Act is to develop more fully the academic, vocational, and technical skills of secondary students and post-secondary students who elect to enroll in vocational and technical education programs (little emphasis on special populations)
Perkins

43. Perkins III (1996) At the local levels funds can be spent on:
strengthening the academic, and vocational and technical skills of students
providing students with strong experience in and understanding of all aspects of an industry
developing, improving, or expanding the use of technology in vocational and technical education
providing professional development programs to teachers, counselors, and administrators

44. Perkins III (1996)
conducting evaluations of the vocational and technical education programs ...including how the needs of special populations are being met
initiating, improving, expanding, and modernizing quality vocational and technical education programs
linking secondary vocational and technical education and post-secondary vocational and technical education, including implementing tech-prep programs.

45. Legislative Mandates for Extension
Various minor amendments and laws have mandated that Extension work in the following areas:
Pesticide impact assessment
Groundwater quality
Financially stressed and/or dislocated farmers
Food safety
Nutrition and family education
Urban gardening
Pest management
Farm safety and rural health
Rural development

46. Legislative Mandates for Extension
Agricultural telecommunications
youth-at-risk
Renewable resources
Subsistence farming on Native American reservations
Establish and operate centers of rural technology
Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers
Rural health and safety education
Nutrition education and consumer education
1890 extension work

47. Legislative Mandates for Extension
Natural-resource-based economic development

48. Conclusion
Legislation for extension and agricultural education during the past 50 years has been influenced greatly by changing societal and environmental concerns.
Federal legislation has often mandated what we are to do.
The focus has shifted to helping certain groups of people.