Senator Baldwin Introduces Legislation to Implement CTE Strategies in Struggling Schools

On Tuesday, March 10, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Next Generation (NextGen) High Schools Act, a bill that will help connect America’s underserved students with the applied learning and rigorous curriculum of CTE programs. The legislation will comprehensively overhaul schools using evidence-based reform strategies to increase student engagement and academic achievement, as well as to improve high school graduation rates.

ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson and Region III Vice President Katrina Plese released a statement in support of the legislation following its introduction Tuesday:

“This legislation would connect struggling students with the rigorous curriculum and applied learning opportunities that are integral to CTE, which is a proven, evidence-based strategy to increase student engagement and high school graduation rates,” said Wilson.

“As a CTE professional and the voice of ACTE's members from Wisconsin and all of Region III within our national association, I know firsthand about the incredible strides that students can make when given real-world, applied learning opportunities in CTE classrooms,” Plese continued.

ACTE has joined a number of other education stakeholder organizations in endorsing the legislation, including the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium, Alliance for Excellent Education and the National Urban League.

The NextGen High Schools Act would take common-sense approaches to ensure every student graduates college- and career-ready, including emphasizing real-world and project-based learning experiences that apply students’ academic curriculum; creating opportunities to earn college-level credit and postsecondary credentials in high school, and ensuring that college and career counselors have the information and tools necessary to guide students’ educational choices. To learn more about the bill, visit Sen. Baldwin’s press release here and the fact sheet on the legislation here.

Comments

[josephine wangutusi]

This is very encouraging. Keep it up.