In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Career and technical education and vocational education" means vocational and technical preparation programs for pupils in grades nine through twelve.

2. "Occupation" means the principal employment, paid or unpaid, of a person.

3. "Program improvement services" means those activities, services and functions carried out to develop, support and improve the quality of career and technical education and vocational education programs, including teacher education, curriculum, guidance and administration.

4. "Program standards" means models designed to serve as a guide in the establishment, maintenance and evaluation of quality career and technical, vocational, and technical education programs.

5. "Training provider" means an agency, council or organization providing career and technical education and vocational education or employment training, or both.

6. "Unpaid employment" means work in recognized occupations for which there is no direct financial compensation.

7. "Vocational and technical preparation" means an organized set of specialized courses which is directly related to the preparation of persons for occupations that normally do not require a baccalaureate or advanced degree for paid or unpaid employment or advancement and which is designed in total to provide a pupil with sufficient skills for entry into an occupation.