On Monday, July 14, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the U.S. Department of Education to proceed with a reduction in force of approximately 1,400 employees. The Court’s decision also enables ED and the Department of Labor to execute a previously signed interagency agreement (IAA), which had been held up as part of litigation, that will move the administration of Perkins and WIOA Title II adult education and literacy programs to DOL.
According to an announcement sent by ED on July 15, “under the partnership, DOL will provide day-to-day administration of ED’s Perkins and WIOA Title II programs” while “ED will maintain all statutory responsibilities and positions, policy authority, and oversight of these programs.” A related fact sheet describes this move as aligning with the Administration’s executive orders on returning education to the states and coordinating federal education and workforce investments.
While, according to the fact sheet, current agreements between states with ED and DOL will not be immediately impacted, ACTE is deeply concerned about the potential for significant administrative confusion and unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, increasing the risk of funding delays or disruptions in program delivery, as well as a lack of specifics in the IAA about which agency will have responsibility for key functions under Perkins such as the Consolidated Annual Report.
The fact sheet also emphasizes an “employment first perspective” that does not reflect the full purpose of CTE programs. ACTE is concerned that this effort will shift the focus of Perkins and disrupt the critical connection between CTE and the broader education system, posing a threat to program of study development, early career exploration, integration of rigorous academic standards, alignment with graduation requirements and linkages between high school and postsecondary CTE. The Administration has also signaled its interest in directing federal funds for CTE away from postsecondary recipients to the K-12 level only, and postsecondary CTE programs may be further impacted by the recent notice of interpretation about the use of federal funds to serve undocumented immigrants — raising many questions about how these proposals would fit with the goals of this partnership
We are gathering more information on these actions and will provide more guidance as it becomes available. In the meantime, we encourage you to share any questions and concerns you have with us by completing this short form or contacting ACTE Government Relations Manager Jimmy Koch.