CTE Policy Watch: A blog for CTE advocates

ACTION ALERT: Get Ready for the 119th Congress!

On January 3, 2025, the 119th Congress is scheduled to convene for the first time. However, there is plenty of work to do before then! While the current Congress wraps up the “lame-duck” session, newly elected Members will soon begin the process of hiring staff, opening offices and developing their legislative philosophies and agendas. With numerous potential threats to education and workforce development programs and funding on the horizon, this is a fantastic opportunity to ensure that CTE is a priority for your new representatives and senators-elect. 

Outreach to newly elected Members will help you to build relationships and shape their legislative goals. It is still important to maintain existing relationships on Capitol Hill as well – now is a great time to renew relationships with existing Members of Congress and remind them to support CTE! 

Here are some actions you can take to prepare for the 119th Congress: 

• Visit member-elect campaign websites and review their information and views on education and workforce development. 

• If contact information is available, congratulate the member-elect on their election victory and offer to serve as a resource to them on education and workforce development issues going forward. If they don’t have a public or staff email, reach out over social media! 

• If Members-elect are attending community events or meetings, attend to introduce yourself and inquire about their understanding and support of CTE in your state or district. 

• Reach out to your returning representatives to congratulate them on re-election, reiterate your desire to serve as a resource to them and express your hope that they will continue to take actions in support of CTE, such as increasing Perkins funding, expanding Pell Grants to short-term training programs and supporting the educator workforce. 

As we approach the 119th Congress’s First Session, ACTE will share more information and to help you build relationships with your new policymakers. You can also use the resources in ACTE’s advocacy toolkit to help prepare for the transition! If you have any questions, please reach out to Hannah Richards, ACTE’s Media and Advocacy Coordinator, at [email protected].  

DC Digest November 16 - 22

This was a busy week in Washington as Congress works to complete necessary activities before the end of the year. The Department of Education released the long-awaited Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Department of Labor celebrated National Apprenticeship Week. They also announced several new resources and funding opportunities for workforce development. Meanwhile, President-Elect Trump nominated Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education. Keep reading for more! 

• President-Elect Trump Nominates Linda McMahon for Education Secretary: President-Elect Donald Trump picked Linda McMahon, a business and wrestling executive and former administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), to lead the Education Department. Most recently, McMahon served as co-chair of Trump’s transition team.   

• Introducing the New Senators-Elect: In January, twelve new senators-elect are expected to take office and join the 119th Congress. Though some have yet to announce their positions and plans regarding education and workforce development, many have outlined priorities and interests in CTE they intend to pursue. Many have also served in federal, state and local government offices, providing us insights into what they might seek to accomplish as senators. 

• FAFSA Update: The Department of Education announced that the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form is now available to the public, two weeks ahead of the Department's goal of December 1. The House and Senate also passed the FAFSA Deadline Act, which would mandate that the form be made available by October 1 in future years, rather than the Department’s current deadline of January 1. 

• Department of Energy Launches $1.9 Million Offshore Wind Workforce Readiness Program: The Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) announced a $1.9 million funding opportunity to strengthen offshore wind workforce readiness. Applications are due by December 13, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET. 

• National Apprenticeship Week: The Department of Labor celebrated its 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week. To commemorate the occasion, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) addressed the House Floor to call for stronger workforce development programs. For more National Apprenticeship Week resources, check out ACTE on social media! 

• Updated Resource – Aligning the Workforce System and Economic Growth in Best Practices from State WIOA Planning: The Department of Labor updated a publication to highlight states that have been using their WIOA State Plan as a strategic document to improve their systems and services. 

Research Roundup: Learner Voice, Value of College and Credentials, Summer School Programs

Leveraging Learner Voice in CTE: Empowering Learners, Enhancing CTE: A recent publication from Advance CTE highlights how five states – Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire, Oregon and Wisconsin – engage learners to foster successful education and career pathway programs.

For instance, Colorado has embedded their perspectives onto local advisory committees and engaged with recent CTE graduates to
promote program development as part of expanding equitable college and career pathways and sustainable work-based learning partnerships. Other states employ similar tactics when relying on learner voice: Delaware has organized a task force of 16 learners to provide input on CTE programs, New Hampshire has incorporated learners into state CTE Advisory Board meetings, and Oregon established the CTE Student Advisory Council, which serves to provide input into CTE decision-making.  

This work builds off of a toolkit that ACTE and Advance CTE developed for state and local CTE leaders with actionable resources, guidance and tools to ensure CTE learner voices are elevated and heard for the improvement of CTE policies and practices. 

School Pulse Panel: Summer and Afterschool Programs: A recent update to the NCES School Pulse Panel provides data about summer and afterschool program for public schools across the nation. As of September 2024, 80% of public schools offer academically focused summer programs, but only 4% of public schools offer a work-based learning summer program and only 3% of public schools offer a summer internship program.  

Is College Worth It?: The Pell Institute published a report examining the perceived value of higher education among minority students, particularly in a time where education debt and other financial burdens are at an all-time high for students and graduates. 

Researchers found that while the financial strain of higher education significantly impacts students, students still believe that attaining a college degree, including associate and bachelor’s degrees, will be worthwhile. Particularly, the majority of students note that they are pursuing a degree to secure a good-paying job (66% strongly agreed, 26% agreed) and to learn skills that will help them succeed in their careers (60% strongly agreed, 33% agreed). Other factors in the perceived importance of attending college include the following: 

• Marginalized students strive for college education as part of acknowledging the sacrifices made by their families (especially for immigrant families). 

• Students want to build upon their social capital by networking in college settings with faculty, researchers, employers and other notable individuals in order to accelerate their careers. 

• Students view their college education as making a broader societal impact, wanting to use their degrees to advance change and equity in society. 

Making Every Rung of the Credential Ladder Count: Understanding How Community College Certificates Can Meet Learner Expectations for Economic Mobility: Education Equity Solutions released a report regarding community college certificates. Research on these certificates suggests wide variation in their effectiveness at propelling students into economic prosperity, especially when examining data by race, income, ethnicity, disability status and other markers. The authors found the following issues to be addressed by community college leaders and policymakers: 

• There is significant misalignment between student and college goals in certificate programs. Community college educators often view their credential programs as a “first step” in a longer pathway incorporating stackable credentials, but students expect these programs to lead them to a secure career immediately after completion. 

• Even if a student’s first certificate is stackable, they often are unable to return to college as their jobs do not pay them enough and they have long working hours. Many students also do not believe that earning another credential would help them. 

• Graduates appreciate when credential programs are designed to target specific, high-quality jobs.  

FAFSA Update

The Department of Education announced that the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form is now available to the public, two weeks ahead of the Department's goal of December 1. They have been working on updating the form following challenges that applicants and schools faced last year and shared several resources and other materials to help smooth over the transition.  

This release follows four rounds of Beta testing that the Department conducted over the last few months, made available to select groups of students, families and college acceptance administrators. Both the House and Senate also passed the FAFSA Deadline Act, which would mandate that the form be made available by October 1 rather than the Department’s current deadline of January 1 in future years.  

Below are some resources to consult when helping students and families with their FAFSA forms. ACTE will share if there are any updates to the form or application process! 

• Create a StudentAid.gov Account 

• Tips for Filling out the FAFSA form 

• Parent Wizard Tool 

• Step by Step Help 

President-Elect Trump Nominates Linda McMahon for Education Secretary

President-elect Donald Trump picked Linda McMahon, a business and wrestling executive and former administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), to lead the Education Department. Most recently, McMahon served as co-chair of Trump’s transition team.  

From 2017-2019, McMahon served as the SBA administrator. During her tenure, she focused on promoting small business growth and frequently traveled the country talking with small business owners touting the effects of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. She left the Administration in 2019 to help create the American First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank that’s been closely involved in planning for the second term. 

McMahon’s education experience includes serving on the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009. She is also a trustee at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic school in Fairfield, Connecticut. 

In his announcement of McMahon, President-elect Trump said that McMahon will bring decades of leadership experience as well as a “deep understanding of both Education and Business” to empower the next generation of students and workers. The president-elect also reiterated his desire to give states more control of education systems.  

One potential focus of McMahon could be short-term Pell. In a September op-ed, McMahon advocated for the expansion of Pell Grants for short-term training programs. In the piece she states, “many degree programs have lost sight of their mission. And their one-size-fits-all solution to workforce development has become outdated. Our educational system must offer clear and viable pathways to the American Dream aside from four-year degrees.” 

As McMahon’s nomination moves through the Senate, ACTE will keep you updated on the latest developments.  

Introducing the New Senators-elect

In January, twelve new senators-elect are expected to take office and join the 119th Congress. Though some have yet to announce their positions and plans regarding education and workforce development, many have outlined priorities and interests in CTE they intend to pursue. Many have also served in federal, state and local government offices, providing us insights into what they might seek to accomplish as Senators. Keep reading for more details on who they are and what we know so far about their platforms to inform your advocacy next year! 

• Senator-elect Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) 

Rep. Ruben Gallego ran to fill the open Senate seat following Sen.  Kyrsten Sinema’s retirement announcement. He currently represents Arizona’s 3rd District in the House of Representatives. 

Rep. Gallego has been vocal on several education issues including chronic absenteeism and funding for programs like Head Start. He also introduced the Teachers LEAD Act in the House to establish a grant program to support and improve teacher retention.  

• Senator-elect Adam Schiff (D-CA) 

Rep. Adam Schiff currently represents California’s 30th District in the House of Representatives. This seat he will be filling in the Senate is currently occupied by Sen. Laphonza Bulter, who was appointed after Sen. Dianne Feinstein passed away in 2023 and decided not to run for reelection.   

Rep. Schiff has previously worked on the accessibility and affordability of higher education and is an avid supporter of student loan forgiveness. Schiff has also supported funding increases for programs created by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act  (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). He is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus and has sponsored legislation to support CTE including the Clean Energy Workforce Act to, “develop career and technical education programs of study and facilities in the areas of renewable energy.” 

• Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) 

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester is currently serving as a congresswoman for Delaware At-Large and ran to fill the vacant seat after Sen. Tom Carper announced his retirement. The Congresswoman campaigned on student loan forgiveness and her work to support funding for CTE pathways.  

Rep. Blunt Rochester introduced the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act in the House to expand Pell Grant eligibility and is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus. She has also worked on other legislation to support CTE, such as the Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act to support community colleges and CTE centers’ work with immersive technology.  

• Senator-elect Jim Banks (R-IN) 

Rep. Jim Banks ran to fill the open seat in Indiana, created when Sen. Mike Braun (currently a member of the Senate CTE Caucus) ran for Governor. Currently representing Indiana’s 3rd District, Rep. Banks sits on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Rep. Banks’ work on education has been primarily focused on issues including Title IX and free speech on college campuses. He is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus. 

• Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) 

Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks currently serves as 8th County Executive in Prince George’s County in Maryland and ran to fill the open Senate seat following Sen. Benjamin Cardin’s retirement announcement. She is an advocate of CTE and has brought attention to CTE programs in the state, participating in CTE month activities. Senator-elect Alsobrooks also allocated funds to construct a CTE Hub in Temple Hills, MD. She has publicly supported lowering the cost of college, offering free community college to low-income students and Pell Grant expansion.  

• Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) 

Rep. Elissa Slotkin ran to fill the open Senate seat in Michigan following Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s retirement announcement. While Rep. Slotkin doesn’t lay out explicit priorities on education, she has advocated for the CHIPS and Science Act and strengthening infrastructure in Michigan. She has also received endorsement from the Michigan Education Association and is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus. 

• Senator-elect Tim Sheehy (R-MT) 

Senator-elect Tim Sheehy won his Senate race in Montana against incumbent Sen. Jon Tester who is currently in the Senate CTE Caucus. Senator-elect Sheehy is new to political office but served as a Lieutenant in the Navy for nine years and founded an aerial firefighting and wildfire management company. Senator-elect Sheehy’s exact policies on education have yet to be shared, but he has discussed an interest in social politics within schools. 

• Senator-elect Andrew Kim (D-NJ) 

Rep. Andrew Kim currently represents New Jersey’s 3rd District in the House of Representatives and ran for election to replace the former Sen. Bob Menendez. Congressman Kim is a member of the House CTE Caucus and has previously supported legislation such as the CHIPS and Science Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He also received the endorsements of the New Jersey Education Association and the National Education Association. 

• Senator-elect Bernie Moreno (R-OH) 

Senator-elect Bernie Moreno won his Senate race against incumbent Sherrod Brown, who is currently a member of the Senate CTE Caucus. Moreno is formerly a businessman, having grown and sold multiple companies prior to his Senate bid. While Senator-elect Moreno has not discussed education at length, he ran on 16 priorities including American energy independence and restoring American manufacturing.  

• Senator-elect John Curtis (R-UT) 

Rep. John Curtis currently represents Utah’s 3rd District in the House of Representatives and recently won his bid to fill the empty seat in Utah following Sen. Mitt Romney’s retirement. He has previously worked on the Time to Completion Act to help improve community college graduation rates. Rep. Curtis has noted his belief that decisions regarding education should be made at the local level with less federal regulation.  

• Senator-elect Jim Justice (R-WV) 

Governor Jim Justice won his Senate election to replace Sen. Joe Manchin, following his retirement announcement. Senator Manchin is currently a member of the Senate CTE Caucus. Governor Justice’s priorities are based on his interest in preparing students for 21st century careers and highlight the work that West Virginia has done to increase teacher and school service personnel pay. Additionally, as governor he worked to expand access to computer science education and has committed to promoting funding for CTE when he is sworn in as Senator.  

• Senator-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA)  

Senator-elect Dave McCormick has been declared the winner of his Senate race against incumbent, Sen. Bob Casey. Prior to his Senate race, Senator-elect McCormick served in the Army and worked under the Bush Administration. 

Senator-elect McCormick has expressed interest in expanding school choice, committing to free expression and valuing civics. He has also noted the importance of creating new workforce training programs and giving job training and community colleges the same respect and financial support as is directed toward a four-year college education.  

*Pennsylvania has issued an automatic recount given how close the results were. If anything changes, we will update and let you know! 

DC Digest: November 9-15

Congress is back in DC with a packed agenda ahead of them for the lame duck session. Key items on the schedule are the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), completion or extension of the Farm Bill, and appropriations packages. The continuing resolution (CR) passed earlier this year extends FY 2025 government funding through December 20, so Congress will have to either pass their spending bills or another CR before then. Meanwhile, committee assignments and orientation for the 119th Congress have begun, despite a handful of House races remaining uncalled. In the Administration, the Department of Labor is gearing up for National Apprenticeship Week while the Department of Education begins its final phase of testing for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Keep reading for more information and stay tuned for upcoming details on your new Members of Congress! 

 

• Post-Election Update: As the dust settles on last week’s general election, we are starting to get a clearer picture of what changes will look like within the Executive and Legislative branches. There will certainly be some immediate impacts, and others that will have greater implications for the future. Check out the blog for more details.
• Senator Cassidy to Chair HELP Committee in 119th Congress: Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced that he will serve as Chair of the Committee in the 119th Congress once Republicans take control of the chamber. He has already established an agenda. 
• White House Hosts Classroom to Career Summit: The White House hosted the Classroom to Career Summit with the President and First Lady to discuss education and the Administration’s agenda on expanding career pathways to good jobs. A companion event was hosted by the Department of Education to explore promising programs and practices across the country.  
• House Passes Social Security Fairness Act: On Nov. 12, the House passed H.R. 82, which would repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provisions (WEP) within the Social Security program. This is a long-time ACTE priority that would improve the ability to recruit industry professionals into teaching careers in some states. We will be encouraging the Senate to act on the bill before the end of the Congress. 
• ACTE Submits Comments on Proposed Changes to Perkins: On Nov. 12, ACTE and Advance CTE submitted joint comments in response to the Administration’s proposed changes to the Perkins State Plan Guide. You can view our comments here, and see other responses here.
• House Advances Bipartisan Bill to Make FAFSA Available by October 1: The House passed the FAFSA Deadline Act, designed to ensure that the FAFSA be fully operational by October 1 every year rather than January 1, the current deadline.
• Department of Education Announces Final Beta Testing Period for the 2025–26 FAFSA Form: The Department of Education announced the commencement of their final testing period for the 2025-26 FAFSA, following months of data collection and feedback from students testing the form. They are still on track to launch the form for everyone no later than December 1.
• Departments of Labor, Commerce release skills-first hiring guide to help employers hire, promote workers based on skill, knowledge: The Department of Labor published the “Good Jobs Initiative's Skills-First Hiring Starter Kit,” designed to educate employers about the benefits of using skills-first hiring practices and encourage them to use the practices in an effort to build a more qualified workforce.
• From Apprenticeship to Contractor: The Lifecycle of a Tradeswoman Event: The Department of Labor is holding an event later this month with the Women’s Bureau, for National Apprenticeship Week (November 17-23). This event will explore the career journeys of tradeswomen and their insights.  

 

 

 

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Post-Election Update

As the dust settles on last week’s general election, we are starting to get a clearer picture of what changes will look like within the Executive and Legislative branches. There will certainly be some immediate impacts, and others that will have greater implications for the future.  

Donald Trump won the Presidential race, and Republicans are poised to control the Senate and the House for the next two years. As of now, 12 new Senators and 59 new Representatives have been elected. 

While we are waiting on the last few races to be called, it appears the Republicans will maintain a very slim majority in the House of Representatives, similar to their majority in this Congress. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) is expected to remain in the Speaker position. Key agenda items that House leaders have discussed are work on the economy, border security and amendments to education policies such as Title IX.  

In the Senate, party control will flip to Republicans, with the balance of power expected to be 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. y On November 13, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) was elected by Republicans as the next Senate majority leader, replacing Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who is stepping down from this role after leading Senate Republicans since 2007. Sen. Thune has served in the Senate since 2005, and you can read more about him on his website.  

The incoming Trump Administration has also begun organizing for the transition, including announcing nominations and meeting with congressional leaders and the Republican Caucus. Nominations have not been made for the Departments of Education or Labor, but we will be following this process closely.  

One of the most significant talking points of President-elect Trump related to education policy has been a promise to abolish the Department of Education. It’s important to note that this would require Congressional approval, which has been difficult to secure historically. There have been numerous times over the Department’s 45 years of existence that similar threats have been made, but Congress has never approved this move. Additionally, even if Congress did vote to eliminate the Department itself, each individual program housed within the Department of Education would still exist unless repealed by Congress, and thus would have to be moved to other federal agencies. Due to the important role Congress will play in these discussions, advocacy on this issue will be critical. We will provide updates as more plans are shared around this campaign priority and alert you to times where it will be most helpful to contact your Members of Congress.  

DC Digest 11.02-11.08

This week, Congress was quiet with focus on the general election. Results of the election will put Republicans in control of the Administration and the Senate. There are a number of districts still tallying votes for House races, so results in that Chamber have not been finalized. ACTE will share more information on the results of elections and their implications on CTE policy as we learn more. We will also be making extensive outreach to the transition team and to new Members of Congress to share CTE priorities and information, and will need your help to build these critical relationships. More info about how to get involved will be coming soon. In other news this week, the current Administration made several new announcements: 

• New Partnership Between Agriculture and Education to Expand SNAP Access for College Students: The Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Education announced a joint agreement to strengthen college student access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Data shows that millions of eligible students are not receiving benefits, so they are trying to increase awareness of the program to help students access their benefits. 

• Secretary Cardona Pens Op-ed on Investment in Rural Education: Secretary Cardona wrote an op-ed detailing the need for investment in rural education, specifically referencing the need for investments in community schools that offer certifications and direct pathways to employment.  

• Department of Agriculture Ban on School Lunch Fees: The Department of Agriculture announced students eligible for free or reduced meals will not be charged for processing fees in 2027. This policy will go into effect for families with income under 185% of federal poverty guidelines. 

• Department of Labor Awards Grants to Support Mine Safety, Health Training: The Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has awarded more than $10.5 million in grants to organization to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses by supporting programs such as safety and health courses. 

• Department of Labor Announced Event on Reentry Apprenticeship Opportunities: The Department of Labor announced a webinar with information on apprenticeship opportunities for individuals reentering their communities post-incarceration. This will contain information on correctional facility-based Registered Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeship programs and seamless transition strategies. 

• New Infrastructure Learning Community: The Department of Labor launched an Infrastructure Learning Community (ILC) to create a collaborative environment for federal grantees leading, supporting, scaling, or developing initiatives funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. 

• Tribal Consultation on Opportunities and Access to Registered Apprenticeship and for Competitive Grants: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) created a Tribal Consultation to discuss opportunities and access to registered apprenticeship programs for federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Nations and ETA grants to Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations. 

Research Roundup: Graduation Requirements, Tech Credentials, Adult Learners of Color, Trauma Impact

Rethinking High School Graduation Requirements: Education Strategy Group (ESG) released a brief detailing recommendations surrounding high school graduation requirements that, when implemented, would better prepare students for entry into postsecondary education and/or the workforce. These recommendations include:

• Involving higher education and workforce leaders in designing high school graduation requirements. K-12 leaders should not be the only stakeholder involved in this process. 

• Ensuring that all pathways to graduation are not only flexible to a student’s interests, but also rigorous enough to prepare students for life after high school. This may include requiring work-based learning opportunities for graduation or achieving specific assessment benchmarks. 

• Including a measure that indicates a student’s college and career readiness beyond high school, such as completing work-based learning, earning dual enrollment credits, completing a CTE pathway and more. 

The brief also includes examples of recent graduation requirement changes that states have made. For instance, Rhode Island has convened many different stakeholders in writing out college and career high school graduation requirements and Illinois has recently mandated the completion of the FAFSA or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid to graduate high school. 

Credentials That Pay: Designing Pathways to Tech Careers: A recent brief by Jobs for the Future (JFF) discusses tech pathways and credentials that lead to meaningful careers with a positive return on investment, also focusing on the equitable development of these pathways. While tech credentials often provide students with high-paying careers, most of these careers are for bachelor’s degree holders, and students of color often fall behind in earning tech credentials. However, meaningful tech credentials are not only beneficial to those who attend a four-year college. CEW estimates that the percentage of tech jobs that will be available for students with associate degrees and below will jump from 14% to 18% by 2031. For students who pursue a short-term credential, JFF finds that these individuals move forward in their careers and attain higher wages. More work needs to be done, however, to ensure that tech credentials are not dead ends for students, that they are equitable, and that they lead students to high-paying lucrative careers.  

Collaborating to Serve Adult Learners of Color: Lessons from the Partnerships for Adult Learner Success Initiative: Mathematica published a brief that examined universities that were part of the Partnerships for Adult Learner Success (PALS) initiative. This initiative sought to provide adult learners with various resources to succeed through an emphasis on university and external community partnerships.  

These researchers found overall positive outcomes that emerged from interviews and focus groups with both students and staff members.  Staff members also reported strong ties with external community partners, with a third of universities revealing that external partners helped bring an equity lens to their work. Students spoke positively of professors who not only engaged them in learning tied with future career options, but also made sure that their classrooms were spaces of belonging and that their voices were heard. Work still needs to be done in multiple areas, however, including barriers that students often encountered when transferring schools or enrolling and balancing school, work and life schedules.  

From Crisis to Resilience: Addressing Trauma and Toxic Stress in Workforce Development and Education Systems: The Corporation for a Skilled Workforce released a report regarding trauma and stress in education and the workforce. As students and workers nationwide face unparalleled mental health crises, especially individuals of color and other marginalized groups, and with very few employers and schools equipped enough to assist everyone, the nation finds itself in a situation where trauma, stress and other mental health conditions may go untreated. Trauma and stress make it more difficult to find and attain work; individuals who faced a traumatic experience before 18 are nearly twice as likely to have financial problems and 1.5 times more likely to have job difficulties. 

Some schools and workplaces have begun implementing unique programs and initiatives to alleviate the mental health crisis. For example, in Coosa County, Alabama, the majority of students live in deep poverty and about half do not live with a parent or legal guardian, leading to students often suffering from a multitude of mental health issues. In response to this, the county’s CTE and Workforce Development Director began implementing trauma-informed CTE curriculum in the county’s schools, allowing students to discover various college and career pathways while simultaneously providing an open space for students to disclose their personal experiences and struggles.