This week in Washington was fairly quiet for CTE-related items. Lawmakers were focused on holding the first hearings of the fiscal year 2024 appropriations process, repealing military authorizations, debt limit discussions and addressing banking concerns. After a half-week in session, both chambers are back in session full-time for the next week. ACTE’s Public Policy team is busy preparing for the 2023 National Policy Seminar (NPS), which will kick off on Sunday evening with a Q and A session! In the meantime, here are some key headlines for you:
- ED Launches Career Z Challenge: This week, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Career Z Challenge, a multi-phase prize competition to expand high school student access to high-quality work-based learning (WBL). Perkins-eligible schools, districts and consortiums are invited to share their ideas for creating or enhancing WBL opportunities in CTE programs. Read more about the challenge on ACTE’s blog here, and more from the Department of Education here.
- Department of Labor Launches Initiative to Promote Equal Opportunity and Expand the Workforce in Federally Funded Infrastructure Jobs: The “Mega Construction Project Program” will focus the agency’s efforts to bring the public and private sectors together on a select group of projects known as “Megaprojects” to provide a diverse pool of qualified workers with access to good jobs in the construction trades. Megaprojects are large federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more – some part of which must be federal funding – and that last more than one year. Read more from the Department of Labor here.
- Department of Labor Selects Communities and Partners to Support Workforce Opportunities for Young People: Nine chosen “communities” comprising the Youth Systems Building Academy have been selected. Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the Youth Systems Building Academy was established in December 2022 to provide training and technical assistance to workforce systems and their community partners to help them explore, design, test, implement or expand approaches to attract young workers and support them once they join the workforce. The academy seeks to strengthen local organizations’ ability to serve young people between 16 to 24 years of age who are disconnected from school and the workforce, and those in marginalized and underrepresented communities. Read more from the Department of Labor here.
- Senate Appropriations Committee Announces Hearing Schedule: Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee have announced a full slate of hearings for their Committee this spring. The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to hear from the Department of Education on May 11.
- Department of Education Releases Guidance on Perkins Funding for Teacher Pipeline Activities: On March 15, the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Educaiton released guidance titled, "Strengthening the Pipeline for Career and Technical Education Teachers and Other Educators." The document outlines how Perkins funds can be used to support CTE teacher recruitment, preparation, development, or retention of CTE educators, and how educator preparation programs can be integrated into CTE. Many local programs are already using funds in this way, but the document can be a resource.
- Department of Education Releases Perkins State Allocations for FY 23: The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education has released the program memo outlining state funding levels for FY 23 - the funds that will begin being allocated to states on July 1 of this year. Based on the $50 million increase provided by Congress for these allocations, each state should receive an increase!
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