CTE Policy Watch: A blog for CTE advocates

116th Congress: New Member Profiles, Edition II

Continuing with our coverage of new Members of Congress, this week we profile new Members from Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Iowa.

Beginning in Colorado, Democrat Joseph Neguse won election in the state's Second Congressional District, replacing Rep. Jared Polis, who successfully ran for governor. Neguse was previously elected to the Regents of the University of Colorado, and advocated during his campaign for increasing federal Title II funding for teacher training. Also in Colorado, Democrat Jason Crow defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Coffman in the state's Sixth Congressional District. Crow, an attorney by trade, advocated during his campaign for supporting "apprenticeship and training programs to fill much-needed gaps in skilled laborers," and for investing in "community colleges and technical training programs for tomorrow's workforce."

In Connecticut, Democrat Jahana Hayes won election to replace retiring Rep. Elizabeth Esty in the Fifth Congressional District. Hayes is a history teacher who was recognized in 2016 by the National Education Association as its teacher of the year. Hayes is a product of Naugatuck Valley Community College, having first earned her associate's degree there. On her website, Hayes touts the value of public education and pledges to improve "teacher training, support and resources." She also notes that "career readiness and training is necessary to adapt to our changing economy and should be readily available to all students."

In Florida, three new representatives, and one new senator, were elected. In the House, Republican Gregory Steube is replacing Rep. Tom Rooney in the Seventeenth Congressional District, who did not seek re-election. Steube is a veteran who previously served in both the Florida House and Senate. In the Twenty-sixth Congressional District, Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Carlos Curbelo. Mucarsel-Powell is a college administrator, having served in various roles at Florida International University. She advocated for free community college during the campaign.

Lastly, Democrat Donna Shalala will replace Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican who announced she would not seek re-election. Shalala served as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Clinton Administration, and is the former Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin and President of the University of Miami. Early in her career, after first graduating from college, she served in the Peace Corps, where she helped construct an agricultural college abroad. During her campaign, Shalala stated that "students should be able to attend public and community colleges without taking on student debt."

Florida also elected a new senator, as Republican Gov. Rick Scott defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Scott a businessman and two-term governor, has an extensive record in education. Scott is perhaps best known for expanding school choice programs in the state, boosting charter and virtual schools. On the CTE front, as governor, Scott issued proclamations supporting CTE Month and proposed additional grant funding for technical colleges and CTE centers.

In Georgia, Democrat Lucy McBath defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Karen Handel in the state's Sixth Congressional District. McBath, a flight attendant, was driven to run after her son fell victim to gun violence. As part of her commitment to service following her son's death, she started a foundation that provides educational assistance to high school students pursuing "traditional and vocational" schools. She also pledges on her website to "fully fund K-12 public education, and to make community colleges, public universities, and vocational schools more affordable."

In Hawaii, Democrat Ed Case will replace Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who unsuccessfully ran for governor. Case previously served in the U.S. House from 2002-2007, and prior to that served as majority leader in the state legislature. His education platform centered on making higher education more affordable, and improving veterans' and Native Hawaiians' access to education.

In Iowa, Abby Finkenauer defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Rod Blum in the state's First Congressional District. Finkenauer currently serves in the state legislature and is the daughter of a welder and public school employee. Finkenauer has a section of her website dedicated to CTE, where she notes its importance for all students, including adults seeking new careers. She pledges to support CTE funding, and emphasizes the importance of partnerships between industry and education, to ensure access to "internships, job training opportunities, and apprenticeship programs." Also in Iowa, Democrat Cindy Axne defeated Republican Rep. David Young in the state's Third Congressional District. Axne touts her efforts to secure full-day kindergarten in West Des Moines public schools, and supports promoting STEM programs "that enable students to graduate with the skills they need to be successful in todays' workforce." She also to "fight for a greater investment in our community colleges and grow apprenticeship programs and trade schools."

ACTE's profile of new Members of Congress will continue next week. You can find last week's profiles here. And once the new Congress begins, stay tuned for alerts directing you to ACTE's action center to ask Members of Congress (new and returning) to join the CTE Caucus!

CTE Creates the Aerospace and Defense Workforce

The aerospace and defense sector directly and indirectly employs 2.4 million Americans. Learn how CTE prepares the future workforce in this sector with ACTE’s updated Sector Sheet. This brief has been revised with the latest on job demand, talent shortages and exemplary CTE programs.  

This sector typically pays well above the national average, and is protected from outsourcing by the need for government clearances. Despite the attractions of working in this industry, three-quarters of aerospace and defense CEOs are concerned about workforce skills. Highly skilled individuals are needed in this sector with expertise in information security, unmanned systems and additive manufacturing, among other fields.

To engage and prepare students for careers in this sector, the Aviation and Aerospace Academy at B.C. Rain High School in Mobile, Alabama, provides a project-based curriculum in aerospace technology and aerospace, aeronautics and astronautics engineering that integrates technical, academic and employability skills. Hands-on learning is facilitated by equipment such as a flight simulator, drone and U.S. Navy trainer aircraft. Among the academy’s business and education partners are Airbus, ST Aerospace and Alabama Aviation College at Ozark, and the school is also home to a U.S. Army JROTC program that supports and collaborates with the academy.

On the postsecondary level, students at Washington’s Green River College can earn postsecondary certificates in advanced manufacturing tailored to the aerospace sector after 20 weeks, or 400 hours of training. Boeing and several other industry partners have provided input to and approval of the curriculum. Opportunities abound in the aerospace industry in the state, which is home to 1,400 aerospace-related companies.

ACTE’s Sector Sheet series is generously supported by Pearson.

 

White House STEM Announcement

On Tuesday, the White House unveiled a STEM strategic plan intended to guide the next five years: Charting a Course of Success: America's Strategy for STEM Education. Having identified STEM skills as critical in the 21st century economy, the goal is to increase STEM opportunities for students nationwide. This is the second five-year STEM plan released by a presidential administration, with the Obama Administration first releasing one in 2013.

The plan is described as "an urgent call to action for nationwide collaboration with learners, families, educators, communities, and employers." As U.S. News & World Report highlights, the administration's three main goals are for Americans to acquire basic STEM concepts, increase STEM access to underserved students, and encourage the pursuit of STEM careers.

The plan was developed by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Science and Technology Council Committee on STEM Education. Embedded in the plan is a reinforcement of the importance of things like project-based learning and CTE, with the report noting that "[e]ducation systems that combing high-quality career and technical training with college preparatory curriculum are particularly effective at preparing students for both employment and post-secondary study, especially when training required to obtain industry-recognized credentials is embedded in the coursework."

In terms of the federal government's role, the report notes that "Federal agencies can help post-secondary institutions better align their programs with secondary school STEM and CTE curricula through meetings and workshops, studies, and grant funding." The report also noted teacher pipeline issues in STEM and the resulting challenges it has presented. This of course is an issue across CTE that ACTE continues to work to address.

ACTE understands that STEM is an important part of CTE, and has held a "STEM is CTE" symposium at CareerTech VISION for the past three years.

U.S. and Swiss Governments Renew Apprenticeship Commitment

On December 3, the U.S. and Swiss governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding renewing and strengthening a commitment on apprenticeships. The Swiss Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Amman, Minister of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, recognized the partnership at an evening event at the residence of the Swiss Ambassador to the U.S. Other speakers included Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross; Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos; Sen.Tim Kaine (D-VA), a co-chair of the Senate CTE Caucus; Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH); and Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA).

Swiss Ambassador Martin Dahinden and U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland Ed McMullen, Jr. rounded off the speakers list during an evening program in Washington. Both diplomats noted the importance of the partnership between the two nations and the importance of the collaboration on apprenticeship.

Several speakers noted that despite Switzerland's small size, the nation exports an significant amount of products to the U.S. and other nations. More importantly related to apprenticeship, many Swiss companies in the U.S. have initiated and extended apprenticeships to U.S. students, and are participating in open dialogue to support the U.S. government and U.S.-based industries interested in replicating the Swiss apprenticeship model or portions of it.

Ambassador Dahinden spoke at a general session during ACTE's CareerTech VISION in San Antonio the week prior, and has hosted ACTE members at his residence after Embassy programs on apprenticeship.

This post was authored by ACTE Deputy Executive Director Steve DeWitt.

116th Congress: New Member Profiles, Edition I

Come January, it appears that there will be a total of 98 new Members of Congress (eight in the Senate and 90 in the House). These new Members have diverse backgrounds, from a former major party presidential nominee to governors to returning lawmakers to first time candidates, some will come to Washington with backgrounds in education and CTE, and some will learn when they get here. Over the next few weeks, we will be profiling these new Members to highlight any relevant education- or workforce-related backgrounds they may bring to Congress.

ARIZONA

Arizona will have three new Members of Congress come January; two in the House and one in the Senate. In the Senate, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-09) won a Senate seat. She is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus. On her website, she touts her efforts "to strengthen STEM education for primary and secondary students, and to increase access to technical and skills training."

Replacing Sen.-elect Sinema in the House is Greg Stanton. Stanton is a former city councilor and mayor of Phoenix, and previously worked as an education attorney. As a local elected official, he pushed for the creation of Bioscience High School, which provides specialized learning opportunities for secondary students. On his website, Stanton advocates for "strong career and technical education options available for students who wish to go directly into the workforce, so that every student can acquire the skills they need to join a trade or get a good job."

Lastly, representing Arizona's Second Congressional District will be Ann Kirkpatrick, who previously served in the House from 2013-2017. She did not run for re-election in 2016 because she challenged the late Sen. John McCain, but has now reclaimed a House seat. She is a former community college adjunct professor and previously served in the state legislature, where she was on the education committee. While she was not a member of the House CTE Caucus during her previous congressional service, she did support the Perkins reauthorization bill that passed in the House in 2016.

CALIFORNIA

Californians elected seven new House members, all Democrats who are replacing Republicans. In the Tenth District, Josh Harder defeated Rep. Jeff Denham. Harder is a venture capitalist who previously taught business at a junior college. During the campaign, he pledged to "fight to make community college and vocational training programs tuition-free."

In the Twenty-first Congressional District, T.J Cox defeated Rep. David Valadao. Cox founded a nut processing businesses, giving him firsthand experience in agricultural entrepreneurship. He was also the COO of the Central Valley New Market Tax Credit Fund, where he directed money to local community colleges. On his website, he advocates for funding "free community-college, vocational school, secondary school education and job training."

Katie Hill defeated Rep. Steve Knight in the Twenty-fifth Congressional District. While Hill's website lacks any education-related policy positions, she is the daughter of a police officer and registered nurse. In the Thirty-ninth Congressional District, Gil Cisneros will replace Rep. Ed Royce. After being laid off from his job as a shipping and manufacturing manager, Cisneros, a military veteran, won a Mega Millions jackpot. With his winnings, he has focused on educational equity issues, particularly related to Latino students. His website's education platform focuses on college affordability.

Katie Porter defeated Rep. Mimi Walters in California's Forty-fifth Congressional District and a member of the Republican leadership team. Porter has strong legal credentials, having graduated at the top of her law school class at Harvard before becoming a law professor in California. Her education platform focuses on college affordability. In the Forty-eighth Congressional District, Harley Rouda, a lawyer and businessman, defeated Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. On his website, Rouda advocates for "tuition-free education at non-profit public colleges and universities" and says that "we need to promote trade school apprenticeships that equip folks for the jobs of the future in advanced technology sectors."

To round on the new Members from California, Mike Levin replaced Rep. Darrell Issa in California's Forty-ninth Congressional District. Levin's background is centered on environmental issues. He has worked at trade associations and private companies that focus on clean energy, giving him insight into new and emerging career opportunities in the green tech sector. Indeed, he has stated that "clean energy drives job creation." Levin also advocates for investing in STEAM programs and making college more affordable, and he identifies the "dire teacher shortage" as a priority of his.

 

ACTE Releases Updated Quality CTE Framework and Program Self-evaluation

As part of its ongoing work to help CTE educators and administrators develop and improve the quality of their CTE programs, ACTE recently released the 2018 version of its Quality CTE Program of Study Framework.

High-quality CTE has become a national catchphrase in use by policymakers, practitioners, and education and workforce development stakeholders. But what is high-quality CTE? To bring clarity to this conversation, ACTE has created an evidence-based framework defining high-quality CTE across 12 elements:

Standards-aligned and Integrated Curriculum Sequencing and Articulation Student Assessment Prepared and Effective Program Staff Engaging Instruction Access and Equity

Facilities, Equipment, Technology and Materials Business and Community Partnerships Student Career Development Career and Technical Student Organizations Work-based Learning Data and Program Improvement

The 2018 version of the framework is the culmination of research, several rounds of feedback and pilot testing. It is accompanied by a program self-evaluation instrument, which can be completed in print or using our new online evaluation form. If filled out online, users can receive automatically calculated scores, save and print their results, and be connected to the High-quality CTE Tools online library for areas identified as needing improvement.

In addition to being a voluntary tool for self-assessment and program improvement, the Quality CTE Program of Study Framework also serves as a guide for ACTE’s work in disseminating best practices and providing professional development. ACTE will be releasing additional quality resources in 2019 and 2020, including a new Techniques column, a new paper series and an expanded rubric that will more specifically describe what progress and success looks like for each of the criteria. ACTE will also institute a revision process for the framework, so that we can keep it up-to-date as the CTE field evolves and changes.

House, Senate Education Committees Poised for Change

Notwithstanding a handful of too-close-to-call seats, the 116th Congress is starting to take shape. In both chambers, there will be changes to the committees with jurisdiction over education issue

In the Senate, Republicans have secured a majority of at least 52 seats, and could expand their majority if incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) wins in a runoff election next month. In the last Congress, where Republicans had a 51-49 majority, Republicans on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee had only a one seat majority. However, in the 114th Congress, when party composition was split 54-46, most committees had a two-seat difference between parties, including HELP. Thus, it is yet to be determined whether Republicans will enjoy a one or two seat majority on HELP, and the results of the Mississippi could be determinative.

Not only may the partisan composition of the HELP Committee change, but so too might the actual members. The only definite change on the HELP Committee roster is Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who did not run for re-election. While other senators may choose to pursue other committee assignments, HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) are expected to continue in their current posts.

On the House side, there will be significant changes to the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The first change is expected to be the name of the committee, where Democrats are widely anticipated to change it to the Committee on Education and Labor, replacing the term "workforce" in the committee's name. Democrats will be able to make this change because they have gained control of the House, meaning they will regain power on all committees. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) is poised to become the chairman of the committee. It is not yet clear what the composition of the committee will be, as that may depend on the results in a few too-close-to-call outstanding House races. However, the committee members who will definitely not be returning to Congress are:

• Lou Barletta (R-PA) (Retired to run for Senate)
• Dave Brat (R-VA) (Defeated)
• Tom Garrett (R-VA) (Retired)
• Karen Handel (R-GA) (Defeated)
• Jason Lewis (R-MN) (Defeated)
• Luke Messer (R-IN) (Retired to run for Senate)
• Jared Polis (D-CO) (Retired to run for Governor)
• Todd Rokita (R-IN) (Retired to run for Senate)
• Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) (Retired)

In terms of congressional priorities, with a Democratic takeover in the House, experts predict that a significant amount of time will be devoted to congressional inquiries and hearings into the Trump administration. This includes inquiries into Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, with anticipated topics including campus sexual assault and higher education loan borrowing. However, it remains possible that some bipartisan priorities are pursued in the 116th Congress, including a potential infrastructure package that could include a workforce development component. ACTE will continue our federal policy advocacy on CTE-related issues, and work closely with both Democrats and Republicans to strengthen the CTE system.

Trump Administration CTE Update

On November 9, President Trump issued a proclamation marking American Education Week. The proclamation focused on the role education plays in meeting the demands of the labor market, noting that "[h]igh-quality education also paves the way for a thriving workforce." The president noted the National Council for the American Worker and the American Workforce Advisory Board which he established earlier this year to bring education and industry stakeholders together.

The proclamation also mentioned Perkins reauthorization, describing it as "legislation [to] increase[] access to programs that will help provide students with the skills they need to succeed in our 21st century economy while enabling more flexibility for States to meet the unique needs of their students, educators, and employers." The proclamation then reiterates a commitment to ensure "students and workers have access to education and job training."

Additionally, the Department of Education has highlighted National Apprenticeship Week. In a blog post, the Department recapped action that the president took last year in an effort to grow American apprenticeships. It also discussed statistics from the Department of Labor and various industry publications about apprenticeships and the skills gap. The blog concluded by touting the benefits conferred to apprentices, and how high-quality apprenticeships can lead to high-paying careers.

CTE: The Pathway to Cybersecurity Careers

This week ACTE is releasing a new infographic describing opportunities in cybersecurity and how CTE prepares students for this high-wage, highly-skilled and fulfilling career pathway.

With more than 300,000 unfilled jobs in the United States needing cybersecurity skills, CTE programs—including courses, work-based learning, career and technical student organizations and opportunities to earn recognized postsecondary credentials—are critical for developing the current and future workforce in this sector.

The infographic was developed in consultation with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), a partnership between government, academia and the private sector focused on cybersecurity education, training and workforce development, led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Parents and students can learn more about cybersecurity careers with ACTE’s STEM Parent program, which immerses students in a multi-year interactive experience exploring and test-driving some of the most in-demand STEM careers. The connected mobile app for parents keeps families apprised of their child’s progress. ACTE STEM Parent is powered by LifeJourney, a technology for families to explore careers with leading industry mentors at internet scale.

Midterm Election Impacts CTE Caucus Membership

Last week, we reported on the preliminary results from the 2018 midterm election. While some congressional races remain too close to call and are headed for recounts, a clearer picture has emerged as to how the elections have impacted CTE caucus membership

First, all CTE Caucus co-chairs were re-elected. In the Senate, the two caucus co-chairs who were up for election emerged victorious, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). The same holds true for the House CTE Caucus, where Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) were both re-elected.

On the Senate side, we hope the results will net a gain of at least two caucus members. The only Senate CTE Caucus member that will not be returning is Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), who lost her re-election bid. However, Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who defeated her, was a member of the House CTE Caucus who we believe will join the Senate CTE Caucus after his swearing in. Additionally, Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the House CTE Caucus, defeated incumbent Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV). Because Rep. Rosen was as a member of the House, we hope she will likewise join the Senate CTE Caucus. Similarly, it appears that Rep. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), also a House CTE Caucus member, won her senate race in Arizona. Accordingly, Senate CTE Caucus membership is poised to increase by at least two members.

In terms of House CTE Caucus membership, there will be a number of members dropping off of the caucus. This is in part due to the large number of retirements in the House, the significant number of incumbents defeated, and those representatives who chose to pursue other office. Those members of the caucus who are not returning to serve in the House are:

• Lou Barletta (R-PA) (Retired to run for Governor)
• Rod Blum (R-IA) (Defeated)
• Mike Coffman (R-CO) (Defeated)
• Ryan Costello (R-PA) (Retired)
• Kevin Cramer (Retired to run for Senate—Elected)
• Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) (Retired)
• Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) (Retired)
• Ruben Kihuen (D-NV) (Retired)
• Jason Lewis (R-MN) (Defeated)
• Mia Love (R-UT) (Not yet called, but losing)
• Rick Nolan (D-MN) (Retired)
• Jared Polis (D-CO) (Retired to run for Governor—Elected)
• Jacky Rosen (D-NV) (Retired to run for Senate—Elected)
• Steve Russell (R-OK) (Defeated)
• Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) (Retired)
• Krysten Sinema (D-NM) (Retired to run for Senate—Elected)

Following every congressional election, ACTE meets with new Members of Congress. As part of this outreach to freshmen Members, ACTE recruits new members for the congressional CTE Caucuses. We believe that through these efforts, and with the help of grassroots advocacy from our members, we can add more Members of Congress to the Senate CTE Caucus, and replace (and exceed!) the 14 House CTE Caucus members who are not returning to Congress.

Our optimism about increasing CTE caucus membership comes in part from the number of political ads that included mention of CTE and workforce training as key messaging points. From ads discussing the skills gap and efforts to create a new CTE diploma, to promises to focus on "job training in the skilled trades," CTE was frequently included in the campaign narrative.

Once the 116th Congress is sworn in, we'll be asking CTE advocates to contact their Members of Congress, particularly any new members, to ask them to join their respective CTE Caucus. To stay up-to-date on these requests, be sure to sign-up for ACTE's legislative alerts here.