The congressional August recess is nearly half over, leaving just a few weeks for ACTE members to get involved with their policymakers during this crucial opportunity for outreach! This annual five-week break provides legislators with a chance to return to their districts and connect with constituents while preparing for their work in the fall, which is shaping up to be a busy season for CTE advocates and education policy.
There’s still time to get involved during this August recess! A great way to have a big impact on both policymakers and members of your community is to write an op-ed or letter to the editor for a newspaper or other publication. ACTE member Sally Downey, the superintendent at the East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, AZ, recently wrote a piece in the East Valley Tribune to raise awareness about tenets of high-quality CTE and questions parents can ask to learn about programs in their community. Downey’s article states that:
“Quality CTE trains students in the skills necessary to earn a professional, industry-recognized credential or college credit or both. It provides opportunities for hands-on, real-world experience in the form of job shadowing or internships. It teaches students the so-called ‘soft skills,’ such as being able to communicate effectively, that employers say are all too often missing in today’s job candidates. And it accomplishes all this because the program works closely with business and industry to ensure that students are being trained to meet current industry standards.”
Sharing messages that are supportive of CTE is always beneficial, and can be an effective strategy for building awareness even without being tied to a specific legislative issue. Policymakers often strive to stay in the loop about what issues their constituents are interested in, and working with the media gives you a chance to make your voice heard. For ideas of how you can get involved during this August recess, click here, and to learn more about writing for the media click here.
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