The Secretary provides grants and cooperative agreements for projects that organize and operate business-labor-education technical committees that propose national standards for competencies in industries and trades, including standards for -

1. (a) Major divisions or specialty areas identified within occupations studied;
2. (b) Minimum hours of study to be competent in those divisions or specialty areas;
3. (c) Minimum tools and equipment required in those divisions or specialty areas;
4. (d) Minimum qualifications for instructional staff; and

5. (e) Minimum tasks to be included in any course of study purporting to prepare individuals for work in those divisions or specialty areas.

   (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2416)