Purpose
The Agricultural Vocational Incentive Grant Program was initiated in 1983 with
the passage of SB 187 and subsequent passage of state funds of $3,000,000 with the
legislative intent to assist and improve secondary vocational agriculture programs in
California.
Program(s)/Service(s)
All LEA’s are eligible to participate in this program. To qualify, an LEA
must meet the following criteria:
- Have a properly credentialled vocational agriculture instructor hired.
- Make assurances that the following quality criteria are implemented and met by the
program as outlined by the CDE Program Certification in Agricultural Education –
Strategies Manual:
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Leadership and Citizenship Development
- Practical Application of Occupational Skills
- Facilities, Equipment, and Materials
- Community, Business, and Industry Involvement
- Career Guidance
- Program Promotion
- Program Accountability and Planning
- Student Teacher Ratio (Optional)
- Full Year Employment (Optional)
Funding applications are made available normally in May through the Regional
Supervisor. Completed applications are due to the Regional Supervisor on or before June
30th. New single-person agriculture programs, depending on how many standards they are
able to meet can receive anywhere from $4000 to $9000. These funds must be matched by the
district unless a waiver is submitted by the LEA citing financial hardship.
CDE Regional and state agricultural education consultants are available to assist
LEA’s in starting new programs or providing technical assistance to on-going
programs.
Funding
State funds are provided annually for this program. During the 1998-99 school
year, this program provided $3,691,192 of funds to 305 local programs in providing
instructional materials and equipment needed for program improvement.
Students Served
During the 1997-98 year, 50,248 students were enrolled in secondary vocational
agriculture programs in California that had access to Agriculture Vocational Incentive
Grant funds. According to CDE Agricultural Incentive Grant Expenditure Reports, the
following instructional supplies and equipment was most often cited as being purchased for
program improvement:
- Books and Instructional Supplies
- Travel and Conference Expenses
- Ornamental Horticulture Equipment
- Agricultural Mechanics Equipment
- Livestock Equipment
- Computers
- Vehicles
- Scientific Lab Equipment
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Farm Lab Facility Improvements
Benefits/Outcomes
The following benefits and outcomes have occurred in agriculture programs
utilizing Agricultural Vocational Incentive Grant funds:
- Continued integration of academic and vocational curriculum
- Modernization of agriculture instructional program and facilities
- Enhanced the relevance of agriculture programs to the workplace and to the occupations
for which students are being trained
- Increased student participation in leadership activities
- Increased student membership statewide in the FFA
- Promoting the development and use of curricular and instructional strategies that foster
critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, and academic skill attainment.
Contact Information
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