Ask Your Senators to Support Short-Term Pell Grants

Earlier this year, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced S. 839, the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2019, or the JOBS Act, to expand Federal Pell Grant eligibility to short-term job training programs. Currently, Federal Pell Grants are not available to postsecondary CTE students in short-term certificate programs that provide the education and skills necessary for many in-demand careers. This is because Pell Grant eligibility is limited based on a program's clock hours and/or length. As a result, many students across the country do not have access to short-term CTE programs that culminate in meaningful credentials that are proven to increase earning potentials and employment opportunities.

That's why ACTE, along with other education organizations and employers, strongly supports the JOBS Act, which would change Pell eligibility requirements to allow funding for high-quality short-term programs.

Please click here to ask your Senators to co-sponsor the JOBS Act.

We need the support of CTE advocates like yourself because an alternative bill was recently introduced that would dramatically scale back potential Pell Grant eligibility for students pursuing short-term CTE credentials. This would hamper efforts to increase access to high-quality, short-term CTE programs for all students while meeting the demand for a skilled workforce in today's economy.

Currently, only Senators Kaine, Portman, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) are signed on to the JOBS Act. Click here to ask your Senators to co-sponsor the JOBS Act.

Thank you for your continued advocacy in support of CTE.

Comments

[Christopher Bell]

S 839 is very important to the Americans who would like to be active in our country's workforce. Dislocated and unemployed or underemployed workers deserve the opportunity to better their lives as well as contribute to the economy. My own situation is a perfect example of wanting to gain training in a new career and have employment which is geared toward our country's future. To put limitations on the accessibility for funding education for adults who need it is hurting the people in our country. We need the support of our elected officials at this time. Thank you.