On May 11, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. This hearing focused on President Biden’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget request for the Department of Education and was wide-ranging. It covered many topics including restarting student loan payments, addressing teacher shortages and funding for Title I schools, as well as significant content on CTE.
Chairwoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) opened the hearing by highlighting how the recent passage of the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811) would negatively affect education funding and called for more funding for the department, including Perkins.
Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) also stressed CTE in her opening remarks, stating that the federal government should continue to invest in programs like Perkins CTE State Grants and explore how higher education programs can better support students seeking meaningful work-based learning opportunities. Capito also highlighted the areas of agreement between herself and the Biden administration, which include short-term Pell Grants.
In his testimony, Cardona highlighted that the President’s budget provides $1.47 billion for the Perkins CTE State Grants Program, which is an increase of $43 million over the fiscal year 2023 enacted level. He stated that the goal is “to expand and build new models for workforce development starting in middle and high school.” He also highlighted the $200 million competitive grant program proposed in the budget – the Career-connected High Schools initiative, and added, “These pipelines are critical to providing more good-paying jobs for all Americans – and giving students a clear pathway to compete in an ever-changing economy.”
In addition to the statements made on CTE, one of the key moments for the hearing came when Sen. Baldwin questioned the Secretary. She asked about how the Secretary’s request for the Career-connected High Schools program would connect and leverage resources provided through the core Perkins Basic State Grant program. While the Secretary did not really address the connection between the two funding streams, he said that it is important for high schools and institutions of higher education to form relationships and partnerships so they can expand their reach. When they can work together, then they can create more options for students, which create more pathways or students to succeed. He also said that states should be systematizing the work. That means that states should lift up good programs and use them as models for high schools to evolve.
Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith (R-MS) used her time to ask about how to increase CTE programs in rural communities. Cardona said that industry partners should be connected to both high schools and institutions of higher education, so that schools are aware of the careers and industries that are available to their students. He then noted that rural communities often feel as if they are not being listened to as much, and he added that it is important for the department to continue to engage with rural communities so that they are aware of the resources that are available to them..
You can view our coverage of President Biden’s FY 2024 budget request here, our statement about the budget here, as well as the full hearing here.
As the appropriations process continues, stay tuned to CTE Policy Watch for the most up-to-date information that may affect the CTE community.
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