TWEET OF THE WEEK

A true labor of love. Super proud of our @CedarRidgeHigh Graphic Design students, they professionally installed their designed mural! What a great learning opportunity for them! Next time you're at the Ridge, check it out! @RoundRockISD #realworldexperienceshappenhere pic.twitter.com/QpHYxeGb9E

— CedarRidge Academies (@academiesatcrhs) September 6, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

We’re Hiring!

Senior Associate, Member Engagement & Professional Learning

Advance CTE is hiring a Senior Associate, Member Engagement & Professional Learning who will be responsible for coordinating outreach and engagement with Advance CTE members, leading member-focused professional learning efforts, ensuring the organization is anticipating and meeting members’ needs, and helping to advance our organizational goals. This position has the unique opportunity to design and implement a strategy that engages education and workforce leaders from across the country both in-person and virtually.

The ideal candidate will be a problem solver, enjoy engaging directly with a range of individuals and be a team player committed to getting results in a fast-paced environment. This position provides an opportunity to have a direct impact on education policy by supporting state leaders working to ensure every student has access to high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE). 

How to Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, two writing samples, a list of at least three professional references and salary requirements to careers@careertech.org by September 13, 2019. Learn more here. 

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

The Dorsey Film program at Susan Miller Dorsey High School in CA is a 2019 Excellence in Action award winner in the Arts, A/V Technology & Communications Career Cluster®. Want to see the high-quality work these students produce check out their website here. 

Here’s one example: https://youtu.be/vAt-MMyEJpU

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

A new data explorer on Achieve’s Graduating Ready website dives into student outcomes and college and career readiness across the United States. The explorer compiles publicly-available state-reported data on student outcomes on eight different indicators of college and career readiness – including graduation rate, assessment proficiency, AP and dual enrollment, postsecondary enrollment, and more. The project shows that there remains much room for improvement in states’ public reporting in terms of breaking data down by student subgroups, reporting it in a timely manner, and in how students are counted. Check it out to see the information your state reports – and doesn’t.

Learn more here: https://highschool.achieve.org/college-and-career-ready-student-outcomes-data-explorer

TWEET OF THE WEEK

CATA Building Construction students learning about spans and loads and how to offset the weaknesses of wood. Also, lots of geometry and science related to building a model, as well as teamwork. @CCBOEAL @shanebarnette @CTEWorks @CullmanTribune @CullmanToday pic.twitter.com/1QHppUocNl

— Cullman CATA Academy (@CataAcademy) August 28, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

We’re hiring! 

We have an open position for a Senior Associate, Member Engagement & Professional Learning at Advance CTE. Learn more about the position here.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Education began the Second Chance Pell pilot, renewed in 2019, that opened Pell Grants to prisoners in the experimental sites included in this program. Eliminating the ban on Pell in all prisons would give hundreds of thousands access to postsecondary education, and allow these learners to pursue meaningful employment when released from prison. Learn more here.  Listen to the voices of those in the Tulsa Community College – Dick Conner Correctional Facility education program. 

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGoKuUXGEiA

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools in the United States: Results From the 2017–18 National Teacher and Principal Survey`

This First Look report highlights findings from the 2017–18 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) a state and a nationally representative sample survey of public and private K–12 schools, principals, and teachers in the 50 states and the

District of Columbia. 

A couple findings to highlight include: 

• Among public schools with students enrolled in any grades 9 -12, 82 percent offered dual or concurrent enrollment, 37 percent offered a specialized career academy, 74 percent offered career and technical education courses, and 56 percent offered internships outside of school. Among private schools, 23 percent offered CTE.

• Schools with 0-34 percent of students on free and reduced lunch (FRL) are about 14 percentage points more like to offer dual or concurrent enrollment than schools with 75 percent or more students on FRL; 8 percentage points more likely to offer specialized career academies; 11 percentage points more likely to offer CTE courses; and 17 percentage points more likely to offer internships outside of school.

Read the full report here: https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2019/2019140.pdf

TWEET OF THE WEEK

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

Congress Reaches Budget Deal

On Thursday, the Senate passed a $2.7 trillion budget agreement in a 67-28 vote. Through this agreement, the non-defense discretionary funding cap for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 will increase by $27 billion and defense spending will increase by $22 billion. Each of those levels will go up by $2.5 billion in FY21. 

This follows last week’s budgetary movement when Congressional and Administration leaders worked together on an agreement to raise spending levels for FY20 and FY21, as well as suspend the debt ceiling. The House then passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (H.R. 3877), a budget deal that raises the caps on defense and non-defense discretionary funding for FY20 and FY21 and suspends the debt limit through July 31, 2021. 

Now, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL) will determine the division of funds between the 12 government funding bills, and the Committee will prepare each of the 12 funding bills to be voted on following August recess before government funding runs out on September 30.

To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects Career Technical Education (CTE), sign up for our Legislative Updates!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Advance CTE’s Kate Kreamer on the Purpose and Definition of CTE

Fordham Institute brought together a panel of CTE experts to discuss, Is Career and Technical Education Having an Identity Crisis? Kate Kreamer the Deputy Executive Director of Advance CTE contributed her thoughts explaining how CTE has evolved. Watch this video clip to hear her response. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/MVY280XzAcI

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Stakeholders and Perkins V: Meaningful Engagement for Student Success

Similar to Perkins IV, Perkins V maintains the requirement that the state plan is developed in consultation with a number of entities and in some cases, identifies when this consultation must occur and for what purpose. In addition, Perkins V introduces some new stakeholder engagement and public comment requirements. This guide from the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) contains specific strategies on how best to connect with, speak to and learn from stakeholders with a unique perspective. This tool provides detailed guidance on stakeholder engagement strategies; state examples of potential strategies; stakeholder-specific tactics; planning templates and tools; a breakdown of stakeholders with whom states are required to engage under different provisions of Perkins V; and lists of additional stakeholder engagement resources.

Read the full guide here.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

2019 @AWFSFair Results: Congratulations to Braxton Zarbock, of Corner Canyon High School, who won 2nd Place in the Open Category for his acoustic guitar “Rosetta.” Press Release: https://t.co/sqqCk0EDjE #awfsfair #UtahCTE #uted @CTEWorks @CCChargers pic.twitter.com/jroQ7pEdem

— Utah CTE (@UtahCTE) July 25, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

House Holds Hearing on International Apprenticeship Models

The House Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee held a hearing on “Scaling Up Apprenticeships: Building on the Success of International Apprenticeship Models.”

In their opening remarks, both Subcommittee Chair Susan Davis (D-CA) and Ranking Member Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) discussed the need for innovative apprenticeship models that provide students with academic skills and work-based learning experience. Witnesses shared apprenticeship models in Australia, Germany and Switzerland. 

To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects Career Technical Education (CTE), sign up for our Legislative Updates!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Teacher Recruitment and Retention

The U.S. Department of Education Teacher Shortage survey data tool reveals that 31 states are currently identifying a critical shortage of Career Technical Education educators. Check out the most recent video on teacher recruitment and retention here. It features two organizations who are conducting groundbreaking work around teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development in CTE.  Use the information to spark ideas in the context of your Perkins V state plan.

You can access the video discussion guide here.

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Practitioner Perspectives On Equity In Career And Technical Education 

MDRC Center for Effective Career and Technical Education released a new brief on equity titled Practitioner Perspectives On Equity In Career And Technical Education. In the spring of 2019, MDRC invited practitioners from innovative CTE programs to discuss questions of equity. This policy brief summarizes the most common equity challenges that were raised in the discussion, along with ideas that emerged for how to address them. It concludes with a discussion of how research can help practitioners address equity, and how policymakers can support equitable delivery and outcomes.

Read the brief here. 

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Yesterday at #CEFHillDay we urged Congress, including @RepTorresSmall, to continue to increase federal investments in education, which currently account for less than 2% of the federal budget. #5Cents4edfunding pic.twitter.com/1eSqetbyqQ

— Cmte for Ed Funding (@edfunding) July 18, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

CEF Visits 41 Congressional Offices to Advocate for Education Funding 

CEF, of which Advance CTE is on the Board of Directors, held its annual Hill Day on July 17. CEF members spanning the education continuum met with a collective 41 congressional offices of both parties in the House and the Senate. In these meetings, CEF representatives advocated for an increase in education funding, which currently makes up less than 2 percent of the federal budget. Check out #CEFHillDay on Twitter to see some of the offices that were visited.

To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects Career Technical Education (CTE), sign up for our Legislative Updates!

Advance CTE has a New Website

We’ve made resources and information easier for you to find! In the Learning that Works Resource Center, there is new slider showcasing the latest resources, new topic areas to help you find Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) and communications resources and an improved search function.

Check it out here!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Brownsville ISD CTE Success Story

Want to hear a CTE success story? Watch this video about a former Brownsville Independent School District’s Firefighter-EMT Certification program student who is now a Firefighter/EMT for the South Padre Island Fire Department. As a child, a career as a firefighter was a distant dream now it’s a reality. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/O7MzclqPdvw

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

CTE Data Puts Meaningful Information about Student Pathways in the Hands of Policymakers

The Data Quality Campaign released a new fact sheet which includes guidance for state CTE leaders in creating the linkages necessary to collect CTE data and publicly reporting this information in actionable ways. It also offers recommendations for publicly reporting information on workforce outcomes in ways that are actionable to families and students.

Learn more here. 

Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) is now in effect! 

TWEET OF THE WEEK

It's official! As of July 1, the Strengthening #CTE for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) is in effect. @CTEWorks has resources available to help guide you through understanding and planning for Perkins V https://t.co/6qvr7g05iE. #PerkinsV #LearningThatWorks

— Utah CTE (@UtahCTE) July 2, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) is in effect

On July 1, Perkins V officially went into effect and states will begin implementation. The U.S. Department of Education announced that they have approved every state’s Perkins V one-year transition plan. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos encouraged states to act boldly in their strategies, by removing silos between education and industry to ensure learners are prepared for high-wage, high-skill employment opportunities. 

Read the press release to learn more.

To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects Career Technical Education (CTE), sign up for our Legislative Updates!

Scholarship Opportunity for CTE High School Graduates 

The Horatio Alger National Career and Technical Scholarship Program provides up to $2,500 for students to pursue CTE in two-year or less degree/credential programs. The deadline to apply is June 15. The association will award more than 1,000 new CTE learners! Funds may be used for tuition, fees, books and supplies. All scholarship funds are paid directly to the institution on behalf of the recipient.

Learn more here. https://scholars.horatioalger.org/scholarships/about-our-scholarship-programs/technical/

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Connect Learners to High-wage, High-skill and High-demand Occupations

Watch learners and staff at Essex North Shore high school in Hathonre, Massachusetts share why CTE is important and how it’s providing opportunities to gain real-world skills while in high school. 

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

With the implementation of Perkins V underway here is a list of resources to help states through the process. It includes new resources to help states develop a meaningful Perkins V Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment. 

Access the resources here.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

We're so excited to have the Las Vegas NCWIT scholarship winners attending our Python Code Camp this week! @NCWIT @NCWITAIC @NCWIT_Vegas @GirlsinTech @GirlsWhoCode @girldevelopit @ClarkCountySch @CTEinCCSD @NVSTEMHub @CTEWorks @CCSDPartnership #LasVegas #girlsrule pic.twitter.com/pVaybrguci

— theCoderSchool Las Vegas (@coderschoollv) June 26, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

Secretary DeVos Delivers Remarks at Second Chance Pell Commencement

On June 25, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos delivered commencement remarks to students in the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy, Oklahoma who completed Tulsa Community College’s Second Chance Pell pilot. In her speech, Secretary DeVos shared her intent for the Second Chance Pell experimental site pilot to become a permanent program. 

Advance CTE supports expanding Pell Grant eligibility to incarcerated individuals, and lifting this ban is one of the organization’s priorities in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. 

Read the full blog to learn more.

To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects Career Technical Education (CTE), sign up for our Legislative Updates!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

The Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board located in the state of Washington developed a video contest to encourage Washington CTE learners to shoot their own videos to promote CTE. Watch the video from Eatonville High School sophomore Alexia Price who won the first place award! The video focused on what a world without CTE would look like for learners. Watch it here.

Want to learn more about creating video content to promote high-quality CTE? Read the Washington Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board’s video toolkit to help local schools, instructors, and students develop their own videos promoting CTE in their communities. The guide provides technical tips for setting up shots, capturing sound, and conducting interviews. The toolkit also links to the sample videos so students can learn, step by step. 

Advance CTE, with support from the Siemens Foundation, worked with the state of Washington to promote high-quality Career and Technical Education to learners and their parents. They received a grant to help fund the video project, create videos and the toolkit.

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Building Credential Currency: Resources to Drive Attainment across K-12, Higher Education, and Workforce Development

Employers need workers for high-skill jobs. Workers need training beyond a high school diploma to access those jobs. And state governments need a certifiably skilled workforce to meet their education goals, attract industry, and contribute to their economies. Floating amid this triangle are thousands of credentials that claim to meet everyone’s needs—the worker, the employer, the community. Which ones lead to jobs that can sustain a family, grow a business, and fuel an economy—and which do not provide meaningful value? 

A new toolkit from the Education Strategy Group aims to support this essential analysis within states. Building Credential Currency: Resources to Drive Attainment across K-12, Higher Education, and Workforce Development takes state and local policymakers through a step-by-step process for collaboratively accomplishing four objectives key to meeting their educational attainment goals:

• Identifying in-demand, high-skill, high-wage occupations  and associated non-degree credentials;
• Validating those findings with employers and finalizing a statewide list of “priority” non-degree credentials;
• Incentivizing priority non-degree credential attainment through funding strategies for schools and colleges, articulated postsecondary credit for high school earners, and rigorous accountability systems; and
• Reporting and monitoring priority non-degree credential attainment with reliable, verified data.

Download the toolkit here.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Take a look at "A Brief History of #CTE!" ACTE recently updated its timeline of major events in federal CTE policy to include the passage of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) https://t.co/SJzICUvO2u #WorkingWondersWednesdays

— ACTE (@actecareertech) June 19, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

FY2020 Appropriations Bill Passes in the House

On June 19, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) $1 trillion minibus appropriations bill, H.R. 2740, that included funding for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-Ed) on a 226-203 vote. Bundled into this minibus were the funding bills for Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water. The bill included close to $1.3 billion for CTE State Grants, also known as Perkins Basic State Grants- leading to a total increase of $47 million over the amount provided by Congress for FY19.

To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects Career Technical Education (CTE), sign up for our Legislative Updates!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Jacket Manufacturing is a student-run business at Perham High School in Minnesota established in 2018. This program provides students with the opportunity to learn real-world skills critical to the manufacturing industry such as sales, marketing, logistics, record keeping, customer service, and a wide range of machining and production techniques. The program was developed in partnership with local manufacturing businesses who provide equipment and manufacturing expertise to the class. Watch the video here. 

Want to learn more about these unique opportunities? Read 2019 Excellence in Action Award winner profiles that include information on student-operated businesses.

• Como Park Senior High School, Academy of Finance in Minnesota has a  student-run credit union
• Mishicot High School, Plant Science in Wisconsin

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

The Workforce Playbook: A Community College Guide to Delivering Excellent Career and Technical Education

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program shares new research in The Workforce Playbook: A Community College Guide to Delivering Excellent Career and Technical Education. The research highlights a set of practices, processes, and mindsets that distinguish colleges that are effective at ensuring that diverse learners succeed in the labor market and make a significant, positive difference in their communities. They traveled the country visiting top-performing community colleges to learn what the best schools do to build effective workforce programs.

The guide states that essential practices of excellent colleges fall into four domains:

• Advance a vision for talent development and economic mobility;
• Deliver high-quality programs aligned to regional needs;
• Take intentional action to support students’ career goals from pre-matriculation through post-graduation; and
• Develop responsive mutually beneficial partnerships with employers centered on honest feedback and reciprocal support.

Read the full guide here.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Student leaders and state officers representing Iowa's 9 career and technical student organizations are gathered today at the @FFAEnrichCenter for a full day of leadership training and networking. @IowaACTE @actecareertech #CTSO @CTEWorks pic.twitter.com/NLkl3xtE3Z

— IA Dept of Education (@IADeptofEd) June 13, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

House Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations Process Moves Forward

On June 10, the House of Representatives moved ahead with the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-Ed) appropriations process by packaging it with the funding bills for the Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water, into what is called a “minibus” appropriations bill, H.R. 2740. Members of the House proposed a total of 189 amendments to the Labor-HHS-Ed portion of H.R. 2740, and the House Committee on Rules determined that 77 of these would be considered. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) proposed one of these amendments, an amendment that brings attention to the importance of Career Technical Education (CTE) (however, it does not increase or decrease the money allocated to CTE State Grants). It is anticipated that the full House will vote on this appropriations package next week.

Read the full blog to learn more.

To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects Career Technical Education (CTE), sign up for our Legislative Updates!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Did you know this year marked the 65th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board decision? It ruled that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. The Alliance for Excellent Education has started a year-long campaign titled  #OurChallengeOurHope on the unmet promise of the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. The campaign was created to ensure that the spotlight on this landmark case doesn’t dim until the next anniversary, will shine a light on the continuing needs of students—no matter their race, zip code, or background. Every month they share an issue related to the unfulfilled promise of the landmark case and this month is High School Graduation Rates. Watch the video to learn more: https://youtu.be/itl8nhG_2PE

Learn more about the “Our Challenge Our Hope” campaign at www.all4ed.org/BrownVBoard.

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Looking for a primer on what CTE is, how it’s funded and the impact of CTE programs? Read 101: Career Technical Education a new fact sheet released today by Higher Learning Advocates and Advance CTE. This document provides an overview of what CTE is, postsecondary CTE outcomes and funding mechanisms for CTE programs. Check out the full fact sheet here. Here are a few notable facts:

• There are 2.6 million learners in postsecondary CTE programs;
• Eighty-six percent of adult learners concentrating in CTE are employed in their field or continue their education within six months of program completion; and
• In Fiscal Year 2019, Congress allocated about $1.27 billion toward CTE programs.

Read the fact sheet here.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

What are the differences between degrees, #certificates and certifications?
Find the answers in our #CEWequity initiative infographic: https://t.co/2XBHc7Ujmu pic.twitter.com/kBgyFQKYA3

— Georgetown CEW (@GeorgetownCEW) June 3, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK

Appropriations Fact Sheet Shared by the House Committee on Appropriations

The House Committee on Appropriations released a one-page fact sheet on the Fiscal Year 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill outlining some of the funding increases the bill allocated to the Departments of Labor, Health & Human Services and Education. Read it here. 

To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects Career Technical Education (CTE), sign up for our Legislative Updates!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Learners attending the West Ada Career and Technical Education Vet Science Program were recently featured in the Leaders in Learning – Idaho News segment for giving back to their community and learning at the same time! Nicole Mitchell and Karson Turley are seniors in high school and are both raising guide dogs for the blind. The dogs accompany them in the classroom and they help to teach the dogs how to handle daily distractions.

Watch the video here.

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

2019 Report on the Condition of Education

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released the annual Condition of Education report which examines the condition of education in the United States from prekindergarten through postsecondary, as well as labor force outcomes. The report includes data and analysis for 48 indicators across four categories: Preprimary, Elementary and Secondary Education, Postsecondary Education, Populating Characteristics and Economic Outcomes and International Comparisons. It also included a “spotlight indicators” section that examines postsecondary education enrollment and outcomes.

Key findings:

• Undergraduate enrollment increased by 27 percent between 2000 and 2017, and by 2028 undergraduate enrollment is expected to increase by 17.2 million students;
• In the fall of 2017, 75 percent of undergraduate learners at four-year institutions were enrolled full-time and 37 percent of undergraduate learners at two-year institutions were enrolled full-time;
• From 2000 to 2017 the median earnings of young adults were consistently higher for those with some type of postsecondary attainment than without; and
• The number of postsecondary certificates and degrees awarded increased from the 2000-2001 and 2016-2017 school years.

Read the full report here.