Congress was busy this week, with both chambers working on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a bill that must be passed each year. There was also activity on WIOA reauthorization and discussion of ways to implement short-term Pell Grant expansion. While there isn’t much news with appropriations, we still expect to see the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education markup in two weeks on June 27. Keep reading for more information and be sure to check out this week’s CTE Policy Watch Blog posts for more in-depth updates.
- HELP Committee Holds Hearing on WIOA Reauthorization: On Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing about reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Check the CTE Policy Watch Blog for more information on the hearing and WIOA reauthorization!
- Short-term Pell Expansion Comes Up in House and Senate: Sponsors of the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which would expand the Pell Grant to include short-term workforce training programs, attempted to attach the bill to the NDAA as an amendment in the House. Unfortunately, it was not made in order, but over in the Senate, a potential committee markup of the JOBS Act, the short-term Pell bell bill that we have primarily endorsed, was discussed for later this summer.
- IES Announces Availability of CTE Research Grants: In late May, the National Center for Education Research within the national Institute of Education Sciences (IES) released a funding announcement for Fiscal Year 2025 research grant competitions. For more information, see the CTE Policy Watch Blog.
- NCES Highlights CTE in 2024 Condition of Education Report: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has published its Condition of Education report, which presents key indicators on the status of education at all levels throughout the country. This year the report includes a special highlight section about CTE. Read more about the report on the CTE Policy Watch Blog.
- Department of Education’s Recent Dear Colleague Letter on Correctional Education: The Office for Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the U.S. Department of Education circulated a Dear Colleague Letter advocating for strong investments in correctional education to promote safer communities and help reintegrate incarcerated individuals into the workforce through allocations of funds designated for CTE and adult education. Read more on the CTE Policy Watch Blog.
- Department of Labor Shares Resources on Registered Apprenticeship in Healthcare and Social Assistance: The Department of Labor has published new resources and materials on how to initiate new healthcare or social assistance registered apprenticeship programs.
- Department of Labor Announces Focus Calls to Inform New Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities: The Department of Labor announced a new series of Industry Focus Calls to provide information to state apprenticeship expansion grantees seeking to launch or expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs in education, green/clean energy, public sector and mental and behavioral science.
- Department of Labor Shares New Resource to support Registered Apprenticeship: The Department of Labor shared a new interactive resource to help promote to expansion of Registered Apprenticeship, “Setting the Stage for Sustainability Through Data Storytelling.”
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