Today, the White House released its budget request to Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017—the last annual budget proposal of the Obama Administration. This document outlines the Administration's spending priorities for the coming year fiscal year, including federal education and workforce training programs. The budget proposes to level fund the Perkins Basic State Grant program at $1.118 billion—approximately $5.4 million below the pre-sequestration level. The Administration has requested an additional $75 million for Perkins; however, the additional funds would support the proposed American Technical Training Fund that would provide competitive grants to support short-term or accelerated job training programs in high-demand fields. The recommended $2 million increase for CTE National Programs would provide technical assistance and evaluation support for projects under the American Technical Training Fund proposal.
The Administration also proposes to fund several new programs that could provide students with expanded education and job training opportunities, including $200 million to support the development and expansion of youth apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs—part of a $2 billion proposal that support the president’s goal of doubling the number of apprenticeships. Once again, the budget proposes funding for the America’s College Promise initiative that would provide two years of free community college. To further support community colleges, the Administration put forward a new tax incentive to encourage employers to work with community colleges in developing educational programs, and hire community college graduates.
ACTE is concerned that continued inadequacies in Perkins formula grant funding to states, currently $170 million below the FY 2007 level, are limiting opportunities to grow CTE programs and expand access to millions of students nationwide. "ACTE recognizes the importance of strengthening the country's education and workforce development systems, and supports the goals of the Administration's budget request. However, we continue to emphasize that CTE programs that rely on Perkins cannot be asked to do more with less," said ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson in a press release. ACTE’s full statement on the budget request is available here.
The Administration also proposes to fund several new programs that could provide students with expanded education and job training opportunities.
Posted by: Keziah | 07/24/2016 at 05:17 AM
Free community college for two years caught my eye. Is it wrong to say, somethings are eye candy, the end i mean... but the methodology! ooomph
Posted by: Esther | 12/20/2016 at 04:23 AM