Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) recently introduced the bipartisan Middle School Technical Education Program Act (Middle STEP ACT). The bill, which Sen. Kaine has previously introduced in the 2014 and 2015 sessions of Congress, would focus on career exploration for middle school students through CTE programs. The bill would establish a pilot program where postsecondary institutions, local businesses, and middle schools partner to develop and offer CTE exploration programs. These programs would include apprenticeships and project-based learning opportunities, which are often not available to students in middle school
The bill also provides students with access to career guidance and academic counseling. These resources would help students better understand and plan for the many high-skill, high-demand, high-wage career opportunities available to CTE students. Additionally, the bill requires the pilots provide a transition path into CTE programs at the high school level, and for the programs to be accessible for both economically disadvantaged students and those in urban and rural communities.
Upon the bill’s introduction, ACTE endorsed the bill and the statement below from Executive Director LeAnn Wilson was included in the bill’s official press release.
“In today’s competitive global economy, it is important that students have opportunities to explore, plan and pursue high-skill, high-demand, high-wage careers beginning in middle school. We proudly endorse the Middle STEP Act because it will give middle school students an early advantage by providing them with the tools to succeed through project-based learning opportunities, apprenticeships, and career guidance and academic counseling.”
ACTE supports middle school CTE as an integral part of a student’s career exploration. We have also partnered with Career Cruising to produce a paper, Career Exploration in Middle School: Setting Students on the Path to Success, that identifies the benefits of career exploration and the ways to implement and improve school programs.
Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Mark Warner (D-VA) all signed on to co-sponsor the Middle STEP Act.