Vocational and Applied Technology Education Program
Information Sharing

The purpose of the Vocational and Applied Technology Education Programs is to make the United States more competitive in the world economy by developing more fully the academic and occupational skills of all segments of the population.

The purpose is to be achieved principally through concentrating resources on improving educational programs leading to academic and occupational skill competencies needed to work in a technologically advanced society.

The state administered Vocational Education program is administered through the Ohio Department of Education. Information maintained by the department and local grantees is generally not confidential except as specified in federal and state law.

Federal law requires that certain types of information shall not be disclosed where disclosure would be inconsistent with individual rights of personal privacy or would violate obligations of confidentiality.

No disclosure will be made of information of a personal and private nature, such as information in personnel and medical files, in welfare and social security records and any other information of a private and personal nature. However, this prohibition does not preclude use of otherwise non-discloseable records or information from such records for authorized program purposes. Release of information to the individual or to an authorized representative will not be deemed a disclosure.

In developing the local one-stop agreement, a review of the pertinent federal regulations should be conducted to be assured that the information proposed to be disclosed does not fall into a confidential category and that disclosure is permitted.

Questions concerning the sharing of confidential information from the Vocational and Applied Technology Education Programs should be directed to Legal Counsel, Ohio Department of Education, at (614) 466-4705.