CTE Policy Watch: A blog for CTE advocates

The “New” Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education

Last week, the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) at the U.S. Department of Education officially announced its name change to the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE). The office will continue to be responsible for administering federal CTE programs, as well as adult education programs, but the new name is more reflective of today's programs.

This name change has been a long time coming! After the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 was enacted, shifting federal terminology from "vocational" to "career and technical" education, ACTE began working with Congress to align the name of the federal office with the rest of the field. In 2007, we wrote to education committee leaders, "The switch to the use of 'career and technical education' represents not only a name change, but also a fundamental shift in what is defined by the term. CTE embraces a broader, more rigorous and durable set of skill preparation that creates myriad options for participants."

In the years since the initial requests were made, ACTE helped work to get the name change incorporated into a number of bills, but none ever made their way through the legislative process to be signed into law. Finally, this January, Congress completed work on an omnibus appropriations bill that was structured in a way that policy riders could be included. The bill was signed into law on January 17, and officially amended the Department of Education Organization Act by striking "Office of Vocational and Adult Education" and inserting "Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education," and making other conforming amendments.

As the Department of Education said in its announcement, the term "career and technical education" is a more accurate term to describe what and how students are studying to be career-ready today!

Congressional Recess Advocacy Opportunities

As CTE Month comes to a close and ACTE’s annual National Policy Seminar approaches, it is the perfect time to remind your Members of Congress of the importance of CTE to your students and your school.

February 15th – 23rd is a congressional recess which means your Members of Congress will be back in their states and districts and will be holding constituent events, including town hall meetings, coffee hours, and policy briefings. If you want to meet your Members and establish a relationship for CTE, check out their websites and social media accounts for locations.

A couple Members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce holding events next week are:

• Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) will be holding two town hall meetings on February 15th at East Windsor Center in East Windsor, NJ at 10am and at Milton Borough Hall in Milton, NJ at 1pm
• Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) will be hosting a town hall meeting on February 19th at Green Valley High School in Henderson, NV at 6 pm
• Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) will be hosting a town Hall on February 20th at the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Zionsville, IN from 4:30pm – 6:00pm

Sen. Rubio Promotes CTE in Higher Education Reform

This week, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) spoke about the importance of skills training and CTE, and proposed a new series of policy initiatives in postsecondary education. During remarks he gave at Miami-Dade College in Miami, Florida on Monday, Rubio discussed revitalizing postsecondary education with a focus on developing skills and knowledge aligned with careers in the new economy. He focused on addressing the “growing opportunity gap” through polices that will help to expand access to education and training for all students.   

Sen. Rubio promoted CTE as a cost-effective option for students. “What they [students] need is more affordable degrees or career education options that are tailored to their specific needs and talents,” said Rubio. “We should make career and vocational education more widespread and more accessible.” He cited apprenticeship programs, business and industry partnerships, and online learning as some specific models for expanding access to CTE.    

Rubio addressed the rising cost of higher education and the need better equip students with information  necessary to make informed decisions about the education pathway that will best prepare them for their future careers. He highlighted the Student Right to Know Before You Go Act (S. 915), which he cosponsored with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), that will provide students with data on their future earnings potential and their expected cost of postsecondary education. He also proposed an overhaul and expansion of income-based repayment systems in which student loan payments are tied to post-graduation income. He went on to propose a new Student Investment Plan where private investors would pay a student’s tuition in return for a percentage of the student’s income over a set period of time after graduation. He promoted the plan as a way for students to pursue a postsecondary education without having to take out loans. Finally, he proposed a pilot program to incentivize federal agencies to hire employees that obtain skills training through “non-traditional sources” as part of a larger effort to encourage the recognition of free online courses and real-world experience for the purposes of receiving transferable credit at postsecondary institutions.

Landrieu Proposes Pell for Short-term Training

Recognizing the benefits short-term postsecondary CTE programs have for students, job-seekers, employers and the economy, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) introduced the Jumpstart Our Businesses by supporting Students (JOBS) Act (S. 2033).

Current law restricts Pell grant eligibility to programs of at least 300 clock hours of instruction over a minimum of 16 weeks. This limitation leaves out short-term postsecondary CTE programs with a proven record of efficiently preparing students with the skills need for today’s in-demand careers and for further education.

Sen. Landrieu’s JOBS Act would extend Pell grant eligibility to students enrolled in CTE programs that are at least 150 clock hours of instruction time over a minimum of 8 weeks, are aligned to local or regional workforce needs and that provide students with an industry-recognized credential. Recipients of these job training Pell grants would still have to meet the same student eligibility criteria as traditional Pell recipients.

ACTE has been advocating in Congress for expanding access to postsecondary education through financial aid eligibility for students in short-term postsecondary CTE programs, and we strongly support Sen. Landrieu’s JOBS Act which will expand access and connect students with rewarding careers.

Ohio Governor Formally Recognizes CTE Month

Greetings again from ACTE headquarters! As you continue to raise awareness of career and technical education (CTE) programs and their benefits in your communities for CTE Month, remember that it isn't too late to reach out to your local policy leaders to invite their participation. We at ACTE have been thrilled with the support we've received from officials at the Department of Education and congressional leadership this CTE Month, as well as the success stories we've heard from our members nationwide that demonstrates their commitment to celebrating the CTE superheroes in their own communities.

One such story comes out of Ohio, where Governor John R. Kasich formally declared February as CTE Month on February 7. The governor, alongside Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Richard A. Ross, Ohio Career-Tech Director Steve Gratz and leaders from seven student organizations officially launched the state's participation in CTE Month. Along with his formal declaration, Gov. Kasich issued a video message emphasizing the crucial role that CTE plays in helping students prepare themselves for success in a 21st century workforce.

"Today in Ohio, we have more than 120,000 teenagers in our high school career tech programs. These schools get it right, and their students are finding their passion," Gov. Kasich said. "They learn math, science, and English, but they do something more, they apply it to the real world. They take this opportunity and earn a high school diploma, college credit, or industry credentials."

We at ACTE appreciate Gov. Kasich's spreading the word about the CTE superheroes at work in Ohio and participation in CTE Month.

Want to get in touch with your own local leaders for CTE Month, but not sure where to start? Check out the resources available on the ACTE website, including the Advocacy Toolkit, fact sheets and a sample proclamation that you can update for your city or state. And as always, remember to keep sending uspictures, videos, and news clippings from the CTE Month events you're organizing in your own communities, and keep up the great work!

2014 NPS Update: D.C. Power Player to be Keynote at Opening General Session

The 2014 National Policy Seminar will feature Catherine “Kiki” McLean as the keynote speaker during the Opening General Session on Monday, March 3, from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Kiki is a co-founder of No Labels, a nonpartisan organization that supports “a growing citizens’ movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents dedicated to promoting a new politics of problem solving.”  A veteran Washington insider and experienced political consultant, Kiki previously worked as a senior advisor for Senator Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, and served as the national press secretary and spokesperson to Vice President Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000. Additionally, she was the communications director for the Democratic National Committee and is a frequent guest on cable news programs.  

Throughout her career, Kiki has distinguished herself as a communications expert in the field of politics and public policy.  Her insights will provide CTE advocates with an insider’s view of the Washington political landscape, helping us to further our CTE policy goals on Capitol Hill. ACTE is proud to welcome Kiki McLean to NPS 2014!  Register today!

Associate Degrees, $10,000 Bachelor's Degrees Pay Off in High-demand Fields

According to a new report from College Measures, graduates with bachelor's degrees awarded in high-paying, high-demand CTE fields from Florida two-year colleges, sometimes referred to as $10,000 bachelor's degrees, have higher median first-year earnings in comparison to graduates from the state's four-year universities--about $8,000 higher.

Bachelor's degrees are awarded at Florida's two-year colleges in such in-demand fields as business, management and marketing; education; health professions; security, law, firefighting and protective services; and computer and information sciences.

In addition, according to the report, which used data from 2006-2011, those who received bachelor's degrees from Florida two-year colleges did at least as well as their peers who graduated in the same field of study from Florida universities. For instance, business administration students from each type of institution had about the same earnings one year out of school, while nurses from Florida colleges made almost $10,000 more than nurses who graduated from the state's universities.

Graduates with Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science degrees also had higher median first-year earnings in comparison to graduates from the state's four-year universities.

Getting the Long-term Unemployed Back to Work

A recent white paper from the White House examines the problem of the long-term unemployed and the Administration's take on how to get these workers back into the pipeline.

As the report notes, while the nation's overall unemployment rate is recovering from the height of the recession, long-term unemployment is at historically high levels. The long-term unemployed are a more diverse group than you might expect, and a younger group: only 30 percent are age 50 or older. In addition, the long-term unemployed are slightly more educated, on average, than the short-term unemployed.

Recent research has demonstrated that the very fact of being unemployed in the long term is a major part of the problem--for instance, a 2013 study found that, given otherwise identical resumes, the likelihood of being called back for an interview falls dramatically as the length of unemployment increases.

The Administration proposes to combat the problem of long-term unemployment by engaging businesses to ensure that the long-term unemployed are treated fairly in the hiring process. The President is also signing a memorandum to do the same in federal agency hiring. In addition, he has proposed $150 million for a grant competition through the Department of Labor to scale up partnerships that help the long-term unemployed with training and job placement.

Sector partnerships, as the publication notes, are a way to bring the long-term unemployed back into the workforce by engaging stakeholders within industries to evaluate needs, re-train or refresh the skills of the long-term unemployed and match them with employers. Hands-on career and technical education and work-based learning are key to the success of sector partnerships. Examples highlighted in the white paper include the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnerships, the JVS Boston Bridges to College and Careers program, the City of Los Angeles' HealthWorks Initiative and NH Works.

Governors Request Increases in State CTE Funding

If some of the nation’s Governors get their way, it could be a great year for increased state support of education. Republican and Democratic Governors have presented budget requests to their state legislatures that include increases in state funding for general K-12 education, career and technical education and sub-baccalaureate postsecondary education.

Both governors of Tennessee and South Dakota asked for increased support for existing programs that have shown their ability to produce highly-educated, highly-skilled students. Gov. Bill Haslam (R-TN) requested $300 million to create an endowment to make attendance at the state’s community colleges and technology centers free for Tennessee high school graduates. Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R-SD) proposed an $8.5 million grant program to strengthen K-12 CTE programs.

In his pitch to the legislature, Gov. Daugaard acknowledged CTE’s alignment with the state’s current workforce needs including welding and machining, healthcare, information technology, engineering and biosciences. Additionally, the Governor hopes South Dakota will increase state support for dual enrollment coursework and provide postsecondary technical institutes with $500,000 a year for three years to create scholarships in high-need program areas.

Other CTE related proposals by governors included:

• a competitive grant program for business/industry partnerships with postsecondary and K-12 schools by Gov. Jack Markell (D-DE)
• a full tuition scholarship for students in the Georgia Technical College System who maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average, as well as a low-interest loan program for technical college students, by Gov. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
• an increase in support for advanced manufacturing programs at the postsecondary level by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter (R-ID)
• a $35 million increase to Wisconsin Fast Forward to support dual enrollment programs between school districts and technical colleges that target high-demand jobs and to invest in technical colleges to eliminate waiting lists for programs linked to in-demand careers by Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI)
• a comprehensive education package to expand concurrent enrollment opportunities, two-year career counseling, postsecondary education and workforce alignment, veteran credentialing and a STEM Action Center by Gov. Gary Herbert (R-UT)

Long Delayed Farm Bill Passes Congress

After years of protracted negotiations and delays, the Senate voted 63-32 to pass a new, five-year Farm Bill on Tuesday. The House approved the compromise bill last week.  At nearly 1,000 pages long, the legislation is the cornerstone of federal agriculture policy with implications for a wide-range of issues, including forestry, research, energy, nutrition, social welfare, job training and education.

The bill makes changes to the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program —providing funding for training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives that support the next generation of farmers and ranchers— that will now include a focus on military veterans who want to begin a career in agriculture. It requires that not less than 5 percent of annual funds for the program will be used to make grants to support programs and services that address the needs of military veterans starting out in farming and ranching. The current program funds competitive grants to regional partnerships of public and private institutions.  The 2014 Farm Bill gives priority to partnerships that include school-based agricultural education organizations.

The bill cuts funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, by $8 billion over the next 10 years. It also incorporates new policies to prioritize employment and training services in SNAP. Over $200 million was authorized  to carry out  pilot programs in up to ten states that will develop and test methods for employment and training programs and services with the goal of reducing unemployment, increasing wages, and promoting the skills development and workforce training that will reduce reliance on public assistance of SNAP recipients.

Additionally, it establishes a $25 million Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program to promote “food, garden, and nutrition education”. The competitive grant program will build on the efforts of existing farm-to-school initiatives in connecting local growers with schools.