SECTION 2. Commissioner of education; powers and duties regarding vocational-technical education

The commissioner, under the direction of the state board, shall investigate and promote vocational-technical schools, and initiate and superintend the establishment of schools for the aforesaid form of education and shall supervise and approve such schools as provided in sections one to thirty-seven, inclusive.

The commissioner, under the direction of the state board, shall approve or disapprove vocational-technical programs in accordance with regulations published by the board; provided, however, that said regulations shall more heavily favor an outcome-oriented approach for approval of such programs over a quantitative approach which solely measures time spent on lab instruction; provided, further, that said regulations shall consider a program's intention to integrate vocational and academic instruction and to train students in all aspects of a chosen industry.