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Congress Unveils Funding Ahead of the Holidays | Legislative Update

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024

This week, Congress has begun to take up a long-awaited funding extension. New leadership has been named elsewhere for the House Education and the Workforce Committee while the Administration shares STEM and rural education resources. 

Lawmakers Propose Funding Extension

As shared previously, Congress has remained in session over the last few weeks, working to organize itself for the 119th Congress and attend to a wide array of end-of-the-year agenda items. Top on this list is determining a path forward on federal fiscal year 2025 (FY25) funding before current legislation is set to expire this Friday, December 20. Earlier today, lawmakers announced that they had reached an agreement on another three-month continuing resolution (CR), which will extend federal funding at current FY24 levels through mid-March of next year. The CR would provide lawmakers with additional time to determine full-year funding for FY25 in the next Congress when Republicans will have control of both the House and Senate. 

Notably, the CR includes a number of additional pieces of pending legislation and other assorted proposals. Advance CTE continues to analyze this legislation for other important components and will share additional details as they become available. The CR is expected to be considered on an accelerated timeline this week and is widely expected to pass ahead of the December 20 deadline.

Walberg to Chair House Committee on Education and Workforce

Last week, the House Republican Steering Committee met to determine new leadership for the House Education and the Workforce (E&W) Committee. Longtime E&W Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) has been term-limited in the new 119th Congress under House Republican Conference rules. Both Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Burgess Owens (R-UT) have been vying for the E&W Chair role since Foxx’s announcement earlier this year. Ultimately, the steering committee selected Rep. Walberg for this critical role overseeing education and workforce development policy. “We have a unique opportunity to make substantive reforms to empower parents, incentivize workforce training, improve government efficiency, and unburden American innovators and job creators. The American people have given us a mandate to enact meaningful change and ensure future generations will succeed,” Walberg, a longtime committee member, said after the announcement. 

White House Publishes STEM Education Strategy

Last week, the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) under the National Science and Technology Council shared a new resource aimed at helping to grow STEM education and talent over the next five years. The vision for the resource, the Federal Strategic Plan for Advancing STEM Education and Cultivating STEM Talent, is to inspire and cultivate a diverse STEM workforce and ensure equitable access to STEM opportunities for all Americans. The plan emphasizes multi-sector partnerships, ensuring access, opportunity, transparency and accountability. Through the outlined principle of STEM training and workforce development, the strategy references Career Technical Education (CTE) and local community colleges as a direct means of building the STEM workforce needed for the future.

ED Guidance on Rural Teaching Shortages

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a report as part of the initiative to support a stronger educator workforce titled “Raise the Bar: Supporting Rural Communities.” The report remarks on the vitality of rural schools to their communities that face consistent educator shortages and highlights specific state examples of practical solutions to build local talent, increase compensation, and enhance working conditions. Registered teacher apprenticeship opportunities and “Grow Your Own” programs are key ways CTE can support local candidates in filling teaching roles. ED encourages using federal funds through Title I and II, the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP), Career and Technical Education State Grants, and other funding streams to support rural schools with essential funding to support learners. 

Labor Grants for Youth Job Training for High-Demand Careers

Last week, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that grants were awarded to organizations across 31 states to provide training and employment services to expand access to Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). The awards are intended to prepare younger workers for quality jobs in high-demand careers through pre-apprenticeships. The YouthBuild Program, supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), aims to engage young learners aged 16 to 24 who are not enrolled in school or employed in the workforce. The program divides learners’ time between classroom instruction to earn a high school diploma or equivalent degree and work-based training to prepare for careers. It also provides support services like childcare, transportation assistance, and the provision of work attire and personal protective equipment. Read more about the YouthBuild Program here.

Odds & Ends

Rob Young, Communications & Advocacy Associate

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor

By Rob Young in Public Policy
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Lawmakers Return for Final Stretch of 118th Congress | Legislative Update

Friday, December 6th, 2024

This week, Congress returned for continued work during the lame duck session while a recent workforce development agreement is considered by lawmakers. Elsewhere, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) opened the public comment period on the Department of Education’s (ED) recently proposed information collection requests, ED issued guidance for supporting the educator workforce, and the Department of Labor (DOL) withdrew a proposed rulemaking on apprenticeships.

Congress Returns for Lame Duck Session

Following the Thanksgiving holiday recess period, lawmakers in both chambers returned to Capitol Hill this week for the final stretch of the 118th Congress. Lawmakers are widely expected to address a number of “must pass” legislative items, including and especially the pressing need to determine a pathway forward for fiscal year 2025 (FY25) appropriations before current funding expires later this month. As a reminder, current FY24 funding levels were extended earlier this fall through December 20 for all federal programs, including the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). Lawmakers are likely to pass another short-term extension, known as a continuing resolution, through the early part of next year. 

This means resolving final FY25 appropriations for federal programs, like those authorized by Perkins V and others falling under the purview of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL), will be determined by the new, Republican-controlled Congress next year. As these efforts continue to progress, Advance CTE is continuing to advocate for strengthened federal investments in Perkins V’s state grant program and other critical sources of federal support for Career Technical Education (CTE). 

WIOA Agreement Under Consideration 

Just before Thanksgiving, the leaders of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee announced that they had reached a bicameral and bipartisan agreement to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). If enacted, the legislation would codify the Strengthening Community College Training Grant Program and the Workforce Data Quality Initiative– two key priorities for Advance CTE. In addition, the legislation would make improvements to the sharing of one-stop center infrastructure costs while also updating youth formula funding to serve learners more effectively. The legislation is currently being considered by the Senate via a “hotline” process, which requires the agreement of the full Senate. Advance CTE is monitoring these efforts closely and continuing to analyze the bill for additional areas of alignment with the organization’s board-approved WIOA recommendations. Read a summary of the bill here.

Comment Period Continues for ED’s Perkins Regulatory Proposal

At the beginning of the week, the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) proposed information collection requests (ICRs) impacting the Perkins V state plan guide and consolidated annual report were moved for review to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). After the first comment window, ED was responsible for reviewing comments submitted by public stakeholders and considering the impact of the ICRs on the burden on state CTE systems. Given ED’s extremely quick processing and review of comments from last month, it remains unclear if the agency has thoughtfully assessed the impact of this proposal prior to advancing it for a new 30-day review period by OMB. Submission of comments for the State Plan Guide and the Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) Guide as part of the OMB review process are due by January 2, 2025. Advance CTE encourages state leaders and other CTE leaders to communicate concerns to OMB regarding the accuracy of ED’s estimates regarding the proposal’s burden on state and local CTE systems.

ED Releases Non-Regulatory Guidance Resources

This week, the Department of Education (ED) released two non-regulatory guidance resources. The first is guidance on strategically using Title II, Part A funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to support educator recruitment, retention, professional learning, and improved student outcomes. Otherwise known as Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants, they can be used at the discretion of state and local education agencies for any means identified to increase student achievement. The guidance references policy levers that education agencies could pull including expanding pathways into the profession and combining funds with other grants from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Perkins V. 

The second resource is guidance from ED for state and local education agencies and institutions of higher education to support the development of a diverse educator workforce. The guidance references the importance of a diverse educator workforce in improving student outcomes, addressing teacher shortages, and fostering equity in education. In the resource, ED cites the investment in Grow Your Own programs as an important pathway into the educational workforce. Delaware’s Teacher Academy Career Pathway program is upheld as an example of engaging secondary learners in meaningful teaching training through a program of study that offers college credits and work-based learning opportunities to grow the educator workforce in their state.

DOL Withdraws Apprenticeship Rule 

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) formally withdrew a proposed rulemaking on National Apprenticeship System. Proposed nearly a year ago, the rule would have created a new apprenticeship model called “Career and Technical Education Apprenticeships,” which Advance CTE and others raised concerns about during the comment period. The withdrawal of this rule means that existing apprenticeship regulations governing Registered Apprenticeship Programs will stay in effect for the time being.

Rob Young, Communications & Advocacy Associate

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor

By Rob Young in Public Policy
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President-Elect Announces New Leader for ED | Legislative Update

Friday, November 22nd, 2024

This week, President-Elect Donald Trump announced that he will nominate former Small Business Administration leader Linda McMahon to lead the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as part of the incoming Trump-Vance administration. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress have continued to make important decisions regarding leadership, stakeholders celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, and ED releases new guidance related to artificial intelligence (AI).  

Linda McMahon Nominated to Lead ED

Earlier this week, President-Elect Donald Trump announced his intention to formally nominate Linda McMahon to lead the U.S. Department of Education as part of the incoming Trump-Vance administration. McMahon led the Small Business Administration (SBA) in the previous Trump administration. Prior to her time in the first Trump administration, McMahon served briefly on the Connecticut State Board of Education before resigning to run for the Senate in 2010. She is also well known for her and her husband – Vince McMahon – roles as executive leaders for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). 

Most recently, McMahon co-chaired President-Elect Donald Trump’s transition team and has been the board chair for the America First Policy Institute. McMahon has previously expressed support for increasing access to Career Technical Education (CTE) and urged Congress to expand federal Pell grant eligibility for shorter-term, high-quality CTE programs. 

Congress Continues to Take Shape

This week, Democrats reelected current Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to retain this role along with much of the party’s existing leadership team in the House, including Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-CA), and Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chair Debbie Dingell (D-MI). As Advance CTE shared last week, House Republicans similarly reelected most of their current leadership for the coming year. 

In the Senate, current Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced that he plans to serve as the leader of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee next Congress. Clarity regarding committee assignments and other key leadership positions for the next Congress remains to be determined.

In the weeks ahead, lawmakers are still determining what issues will be addressed in the remaining weeks of the current 118th Congress. These agenda items include federal funding for the current 2025 federal fiscal year (FY25), which began on October 1 of this year. Legislation extending current funding levels is set to expire on December 20. Congress will need to determine a pathway forward on this issue in the coming weeks. As these efforts and more continue to take shape, Advance CTE will continue to advocate for a strengthened federal investment in CTE. 

National Apprenticeship Week

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) celebrated the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) this week – an annual celebration highlighting the value of apprenticeship programs as a pathway to quality careers. Proclamations were signed, and events took place nationwide to showcase the benefits of apprenticeship, often connected to Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and related pathways. In states across the nation, this week was a great opportunity to connect learners to CTE and apprenticeship pathways that reflect the needs of industry and align to educational outcomes along pathways to careers. Read more about this week’s celebration here.

Federal Agencies Release Skills-First Hiring Starter Kit  

Last week at the “Classroom to Career” Summit, a Skills-First Hiring Starter Kit was released by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce. The Kit is a guide that helps employers prioritize skills over degrees when hiring and aims to increase economic opportunity for skilled workers. This initiative is one of many from the Biden-Harris administration that supports workforce development and access to high-quality jobs across the workforce continuum. As Advance CTE reported last week, the “Classroom to Career” Summit highlighted progress in creating job opportunities and expanding the non-degree career pathways. 

OCR Publishes Artificial Intelligence Anti-Discrimination Guidance

This week, the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) published new guidance related to artificial intelligence (AI) and how to appropriately leverage this new and emerging technology in nondiscriminatory ways. The resource is intended for use by K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions to ensure that the use of this technology is aligned with federal civil rights laws and related requirements, providing illustrative examples of how AI can be thoughtfully and meaningfully used to improve student learning and achievement. Read the full guidance document here. This comes as part of a larger series of guidance related to AI from ED, as previously reported by Advance CTE.

Rob Young, Communications & Advocacy Associate

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor

By Rob Young in Public Policy
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November Elections Next Week | Legislative Update

Friday, November 1st, 2024

Capitol Hill remained quiet this week as lawmakers continue to campaign in home states and districts ahead of elections scheduled for next week. Elsewhere, a key deadline for feedback on a regulatory proposal impacting the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) approaches later this month. In addition, a Department of Education Challenge, Department of Labor Ambassadors, and a toolkit for AI integration in education technology.

Elections to Determine 2025 Agenda

Next week’s general elections set to take place across the country will determine control of the White House and the balance of power between the parties in the 119th Congress. The election results will also likely define the remainder of Congress’ agenda in the coming weeks ahead as the 118th Congress begins to wind down. Election results in several key races are widely expected to potentially take additional time beyond Election Day to sort out. Nonetheless, lawmakers are scheduled to return to Capitol Hill the week of November 12. When Congress returns for this lame-duck session, lawmakers are likely to consider legislation to move forward with or further postponing federal fiscal year 2025 (FY25) funding for the federal government, including investments like those made by Perkins V. As these and other efforts get underway, Advance CTE will continue to advocate for policies in support of high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) and strengthened investments in CTE. 

State Plan ICR Comment Deadline Approaching

As Advance CTE shared previously, the U.S. Department of Education has recently published a regulatory proposal with significant implications for the implementation of Perkins V. The Information Collection Request (ICR) would, if advanced, amend Perkins V’s State Plan Guide and Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) requirements. Advance CTE and partners have continued to express significant concern regarding this proposal and plan to provide formal feedback to the proposed State Plan Guide regulation by the deadline of November 12. As a reminder, feedback related to proposed changes for Perkins V’s CAR is now due November 26, 2024. We encourage states and other impacted stakeholders to submit comments in response to these proposals ahead of these deadlines. 

Department of Education’s “Power Your Future” CTE Challenge

Earlier this fall, the ED launched the CTE Momentum “Power Your Future” Challenge to engage with high school learners considering careers in the clean energy sector. Interested applicants must submit “innovative action plans” that connect with a wide range of stakeholders and outline the use of clean energy in their schools and communities by November 19, 2024. A webinar providing additional information about the challenge is available online. Read more about the effort here.

Department of Labor Welcomes Apprenticeship Ambassadors

Last week, the White House welcomed the latest cohort of Apprenticeship Ambassadors and celebrated the current participants for working to further diversify and improve apprenticeship opportunities across the country. Since its inception in 2022, the ambassador initiative has welcomed more than 440 members representing organizations in emerging and high-growth industries that support apprenticeship programs in local communities and contribute to national initiatives like the upcoming National Apprenticeship Week. Read more about the celebration here.

Office of Educational Technology Publishes Toolkit on AI Integration

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) published a toolkit last week titled Empowering Education Leaders: A Toolkit for Safe, Equitable, and Ethical AI Integration. The toolkit was developed in response to the Biden-administration’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence from last year, which charged the Secretary of Education, along with other Administration officials, to create guidance for education leaders and their learning communities on the potential impact of artificial intelligence in the classroom and how best to make use of this emerging technology. It was developed with input from educators, technology leaders, and other stakeholders to address AI’s dynamic challenges in federal policy and educational issues, like privacy, civil rights, and digital equity. Access the full toolkit here.

Rob Young, Communications & Advocacy Associate

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor 

By Rob Young in Public Policy
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ED Extends Comment Period for Perkins ICR | Legislative Update

Friday, October 11th, 2024

This week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it would extend the deadline for one of the components of a recent regulatory proposal impacting the implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) in response to a formal request made by Advance CTE and partners. Elsewhere, Congress has remained on recess ahead of the upcoming November elections while the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) makes preparations for National Apprenticeship Week and announces new grant opportunities.

ED Modifies Comment Deadline for Perkins V ICR

This morning, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it would extend the public comment period for a recently proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) with significant implications for the implementation of Perkins V. The two-week comment period extension will apply to feedback responses to proposed changes to Perkins V’s Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) while the existing deadline for comments related to the State Plan Guide component of this ICR remain unchanged and are still due November 12, 2024. This announcement comes in response to Advance CTE and the Association for Career and Technical Education’s (ACTE) formal request for an extension made in recent weeks. In addition, ED’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) hosted two town halls last week, providing further details regarding these proposed ICRs. Notably, ED confirmed during these events that every state and territory would be required to undergo a new comprehensive planning process required by Perkins V regardless of whether a state submits a new or amended state plan by program year 2026.

Congress Remains on Recess Amid Storm Damage

Capitol Hill remains in recess this week as the November elections draw closer. Over the last few weeks, severe storms have significantly impacted several states. Due to these circumstances, there has been increasing pressure for Congress to potentially reconvene, prior to the upcoming elections, to provide supplemental emergency funding for states impacted by these weather events. A bipartisan group of Senators recently sent a letter highlighting this need, and similar efforts are underway in the House. 

Despite this mounting pressure, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has thus far resisted calls to reconvene. The need to provide funding in response to these latest hurricanes is widely expected to impact future negotiations for long-term funding for federal programs, like Perkins V’s state grant program, for the current 2025 federal fiscal year (FY25). As a reminder, current funding—recently extended by a continuing resolution (CR) passed by Congress late last month—is set to expire on December 20, 2024. Advance CTE will continue to advocate for a robust investment in CTE via Perkins V as the FY25 process progresses.

Department of Labor Continued Federal Support for Apprenticeship Programs

This week, the Department of Labor shared details for the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), a week dedicated to celebrating 10 Years of Engagement, Expansion, and Innovation of impacting lives through apprenticeship programs. Spanning the week of November 17th through 23rd, the 2024 celebration features daily themes with ways to get involved listed on Labor’s NAW Fact Sheet. Advance CTE looks forward to celebrating Career Technical Education’s critical role and connection to apprenticeships later this fall.

DOL also shared a list of resources for outreach to businesses to support apprenticeship investment and implementation. A related list has links to federal, state, and industry-specific resources for outreach anywhere on the continuum of strategic partnership. The Department also conducted a series of Industry Focus Calls throughout the summer to support state grantees in expanding Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) to meet employers’ needs. The 2024 calls shared best practices and successes for launching RAPs in education, the public sector, green energy, and mental and behavioral healthcare. The calls and resources dating back to 2019 can be accessed here.

Earlier this fall, the Biden-Harris administration issued an executive order related to Investing in America and Investing in American Workers that highlights the importance of prioritizing federally funded projects that prioritize workforce development efforts, including the availability of career pathways and RAPs.

Department of Labor Grants Available for Work-Based Learning for Underserved Youth

The Department of Labor announced a fifth round of Workforce Pathways for Youth grants, authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), available for out-of-school organizations that engage underserved youth ages 14 to 21. The grants are intended to help organizations introduce career-related services, work-based learning opportunities, and occupational skills training. Applications are open until December 3rd, 2024, and eligibility requirements are listed on the application page. Read more about Workforce Pathways for Youth, previous program recipients, and other resources here.

Rob Young, Communications & Advocacy Associate

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor 

By Rob Young in Public Policy
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AGC Maine’s Pre-Apprenticeship: A Program of Success | 2024 Fall Meeting Platinum Sponsor: NCCER

Friday, October 11th, 2024

A New Beginning

In 2023, the Maine Construction Academy kicked off its Construction Immersion Program, a registered pre-apprenticeship program overseen and managed by the Associated General Contractors of Maine (AGC Maine). In two years, participation in the program has grown from 50 learners and young adults to more than 200 statewide. This includes 11 new locations and industry partners, expanding the program to support 15 cohorts. Its retention rate of 98%, with only one student of the first 50 left the program, reflects the values and commitment of the participants.

Program in the Making

AGC Maine focused on several key areas in developing its Construction Immersion Program — funding, program structure, and employer involvement. Kelly Flagg is the executive director of AGC Maine. As the new director in 2022, she discovered that the chapter had been awarded a $1.5 million state grant applied for by its previous executive director.

Kelly said, “It fell on my desk. You don’t always get to walk into that kind of money for a project.” The grant swiftly addressed funding issues, allowing the association to focus on program design and implementation to get the program off the ground.

As a pre-apprenticeship, the Construction Immersion Program was designed specifically to help participants, 16- to 20-year-olds, enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship. The program consists of classroom instruction, ten days of hands-on experience with local companies, and other benefits, including a weekly stipend, tools, and outerwear for its participants.

Classroom Curriculum

Referencing the program’s classroom instruction components, Kelly speaks highly of AGC Maine’s partnership with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Local high schools shared their instructors, who received NCCER’s instructor training through AGC Maine. This collaboration ensured all instructors used the same materials — curriculum, presentations, and tests — in a standardized format.

NCCER’s curriculum meets the Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship requirements for time-based training. Therefore, if the same curriculum is used by Registered Apprenticeship Programs that partner with the Construction Immersion Program, participants can continue with their apprenticeship after the program. This approach reflects Principle 4 of Advance CTE’s CTE Without Limits vision by incorporating industry-recognized credentials like the NCCER Core, which help ensure learners’ skills are portable and valued across various programs and states.

Standardized Construction Training and Certification Model

The benefits of NCCER accreditation provide organizations a full workforce development solution – to deliver standardized training and assessment programs for industry-recognized, portable credentials. Accredited organizations must meet and maintain established standards and criteria to ensure integrity in program administration.

Flexible, Digital Instruction

Online training materials help provide learners with the flexibility needed to accommodate their busy schedules, whether they’re interested in exploring a new skill or pursuing full journey-level certification. Online materials also help instructors devote classroom time to hands-on instruction. NCCERconnect offers interactive, online training for many of the most popular curricula and learning materials for additional crafts are available digitally as eText.

Hands-On Learning

To be successful in the field, performance training and evaluation enables learners to master hands-on construction skills in real-world environments. NCCER’s performance testing helps ensure learners are productive, safe, and confident in using their skills after earning NCCER credentials.

Local Employers Connect

To ensure their efforts would develop a solid talent pipeline for local companies, AGC Maine designed the Construction Immersion Program with two important requirements for employers.    

The first requirement: employers must actively participate to have access to hiring the program’s graduates. “Each contractor has one day with the participants.” Kelly explained, “That’s six hours to present their craft, their company, and what the opportunity looks like. They either go to an active construction site for a meaningful hands-on experience, or the contractor comes to the school to provide one on-site.”

The second requirement: participating companies must have a Registered Apprenticeship Program. This ensures participants who sign on with a participating company may continue their education after program completion – it’s a win-win. Kelly added, “AGC can support those companies in becoming a Registered Apprenticeship Program if the concept is new to them.” Upon completion, the program guarantees participants at least three interviews with employers.

Providing Career Paths for Maine’s Youth

At the heart of the Construction Immersion Program is its impact on learners and young adults seeking hands-on career guidance. Throughout the four weeks, participants learn about a variety of crafts and disciplines including carpentry, electrical, welding, crane operation, highway construction, and heavy equipment mechanics. They also receive financial literacy training, resumé preparation, and guidance in developing interviewing skills.

By completing the program and earning an NCCER Core credential, graduates have the foundational skills needed to pursue a career in construction. “We knew that we wanted to use a curriculum that would have a portable credential.” Kelly said, “Our goal is to start someone on a career path.” Additionally, participants earn their OSHA 10 certification and first aid CPR certification.

Lifelong Success

Pre-apprenticeship programs like the Construction Immersion Program are a tangible way that high schools, local employers, and organizations like AGC can partner in transforming learners’ interests into opportunities for lifelong careers.

Enhanced Construction Training

Take your team to the next level using NCCER’s programs to prioritize training, improve safety, and develop future leaders.

Reach out to the NCCER Workforce Development Solutions team to discuss a tailored program that meets the state requirements, needs and goals.

William Bales, NCCER

The views, opinions, services, and products shared in this post are solely for educational purposes and do not imply agreement or endorsement by Advance CTE, nor discrimination against similar brands, products, or services not mentioned.

By Layla Alagic in Meetings and Events
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Enhancing CTE Program Access and Credential Access in Arizona

Friday, September 27th, 2024

In this blog, Policy Associate Velie Sando highlights policies enacted by Arizona in 2024 that facilitate access to Career Technical Education (CTE) for adult learners and foster care youth, and that expand industry-recognized credentials for learners who complete apprenticeship programs.

Arizona’s CTE landscape saw multiple legislative developments in 2024, with several key policies enacted to enhance opportunities for learners and strengthen workforce development initiatives.

These policy changes align with Arizona’s broader goals for CTE, which include engaging learners in relevant experiences leading to purposeful and economically viable careers. The state’s commitment to CTE is evident in its extensive program offerings, ranging from Accounting and AgriScience to Welding Technologies. With 14 Career and Technical Education Districts formed throughout the state and 101 school districts participating, Arizona has created a robust infrastructure for delivering quality CTE programs.

One of the changes came with the passage of H.B. 2906, which expanded the capabilities of Career Technical Education Districts (CTEDs) across the state. This legislation empowered CTEDs to construct, maintain, and provide housing facilities for those in foster care or classified as unaccompanied youth. This move recognizes the barriers faced by such learners and aims to provide them with stable living environments conducive to their educational goals.

H.B. 2090 introduced a streamlined process for recognizing completed apprenticeship programs. Individuals who successfully finish a U.S. Department of Labor-approved or Arizona Department of Economic Security-approved apprenticeship program in construction trades can now file their certificates of completion directly. This change not only simplifies the documentation process but also ensures that apprentices’ achievements are properly recognized and recorded, potentially enhancing their employment prospects.

The year also saw modifications to the evaluation of adult education programs through S.B. 1113. This bill amended existing legislation on performance measures for adult education and workforce development programs. Notably, it prohibited the Arizona Department of Education from assigning letter grades to adult education and workforce development program schools established on or before July 1, 2024. This change reflects an innovative approach to assessing these programs, acknowledging their unique nature and the diverse needs of adult learners.

As Arizona continues to evolve its CTE landscape, these policies demonstrate a commitment to addressing the needs of diverse learner populations, streamlining professional recognition processes, and refining evaluation methods for adult education. These changes are likely to contribute to the state’s efforts in reaching its Achieve 60AZ goal of having 60% of Arizona adults hold a degree, high-demand workforce certification, or other high-value credential by 2030.

For more policies enacted in 2024, check out Advance CTE and ACTE’s Mid-Year in Review Webinar. 

Velie Sando, policy associate

By Layla Alagic in Public Policy
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Congress Begins August Recess Period | Legislative Update

Friday, August 9th, 2024

This week, Congress began its annual August recess while new developments in the presidential elections continue to shape the race. Elsewhere, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has announced that the application form for postsecondary financial aid has been delayed while the agency solicits new applications for disconnected youth initiatives. 

Lawmakers Head Back Home

After a flurry of activity over the last few weeks, lawmakers in both the House and the Senate began their annual August recess in recent days heading back to home states and districts. Just before leaving Capitol Hill for the month, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a 2025 federal fiscal year (FY25) funding measure which would, if enacted, provide a critically needed $35 million increase for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act’s (Perkins V) state grant program. The proposal largely takes a different approach than the House for FY25 and would provide larger funding allocations for ED and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) along with the various programs these agencies administer and oversee.

Despite this recent progress, both the House and Senate versions of FY25 funding legislation continue to differ significantly. With FY25 set to begin October 1 of this year, lawmakers will need to determine a pathway for federal funding beyond this date– a topic that is likely to be the priority for Congress when it returns in early September. As these efforts continue to take shape, Advance CTE will be advocating for a strong investment in Perkins V’s State Grant program as well as other critical funding streams in support of Career Technical Education (CTE) opportunities.  

Vice President Harris Taps Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Running Mate

This week, at a rally in Philadelphia, PA, Vice President Kamala Harris formally introduced Governor Tim Walz (MN) as her running mate, joining her on the top of the Democratic Party ticket for this November’s presidential election. The announcement comes after Harris reportedly narrowed down the field of potential candidates to a group of three. 

Walz, a former teacher from a family of teachers, signed the Free School Meals for Kids bill into law which provides Minnesota public K-12 learners to have access to school-provided breakfast and lunch. During his tenure as Governor, Minnesota also approved a last-dollar financial aid assistance program for students in households making less than $80,000 to cover tuition costs at state institutions. During his time in Congress Walz primarily focused on issues related to agriculture and veterans affairs and co-sponsored a number of pieces of legislation in support of wider education and workforce development efforts. 

U.S. Department of Education Announces Release Schedule For 2025-26 FAFSA Form

After garnering feedback from stakeholders from students, families, and higher education professionals, ED announced this week a new schedule and process for the 2025-26 FAFSA Form launch. This form will be accessible, on a limited basis for testing, on October 1 with a full public release slated to be accessible to all students on or before December 1, 2024. 

Feedback has contributed to the department’s development of a new roadmap that is intended to support users with a more streamlined process and accompanying tools to help them complete the form before the following financial aid school year. More information will be shared in the coming weeks. 

Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth Application Announced

This week, ED published a preliminary glimpse at the application process for the selection of Performance Partnership Pilots for disconnected youth (P3). The notice, set to be published early next week, establishes timelines for applications according to the upcoming publish date on the Federal Register. Congress has authorized the pilot since 2014 to allow ED and other agencies to waive certain requirements to access funding streams, like Perkins V and other federal legislation, to better support disconnected youth populations. Recipients of the funds can blend them with other federal resources to better coordinate services for this population of young people, estimated to be around 4.7 million people who are neither working nor in school across the country. Applications for these funding flexibilities will be due within the next two months following the formal publication of this announcement. 

Rob Young, Communications & Advocacy Associate

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor 

By Layla Alagic in Public Policy
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Senate Advances FY25 Funding Proposal | Legislative Update

Friday, August 2nd, 2024

This week, the Senate remained in session for a final work period ahead of Congress’ annual August recess and prioritized efforts on federal funding for the upcoming fiscal year. Elsewhere, the Senate has advanced new online safety proposals.

Congress Inches Towards August Recess Amid Appropriations Work

This week the Senate remained in session for a few days of final work ahead of its annual August recess period. Lawmakers in the House recessed early last week and both chambers are expected to return to Capitol Hill in early September. As shared previously, the House has passed nearly half of the annual federal fiscal year 2025 (FY25) appropriations measures that compose the federal budget. The Labor-HHS-ED funding bill, which provides federal resources for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) and other critical education and workforce development programs, was recently advanced by the House Appropriations Committee along party lines, but it has not yet been considered by the full House. It remains unclear if the House will attempt to advance this measure along with several other pending funding bills in September when lawmakers return from recess. As a reminder, the next federal fiscal year is set to begin on October 1.

In the Senate, the Appropriations Committee formally considered its own FY25 Labor-HHS-ED proposal which proposes a $35 million increase for Perkins V’s state grant program. However, the measure also proposes an additional $10 million for the U.S. Department of Education’s “Career Connected High School” initiative– a newly created competitive grant program that Advance CTE and partners have continued to raise significant concerns about. More broadly, the Senate’s vision for FY25 funding for education and workforce development programs diverges considerably from the House’s and proposes to largely maintain and in some instances increase federal funding for many existing initiatives administered and overseen by the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL). 

As Congress continues this work, Advance CTE will be advocating for a robust investment in Perkins V’s state grant program along with other critical programs that increase access to CTE opportunities for learners of all ages. 

Senate Advances Children Online Safety Bills

Earlier this week the Senate formally considered the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0)—two pieces of legislation broadly aimed at providing stronger oversight and related protections for young people online. These bills were advanced by the full Senate on an overwhelming bipartisan basis (91-3). The proposals are intended to strengthen existing federal privacy requirements for youth while clarifying how and in what ways consent can be provided for related data collections. In addition, the legislation would create stronger requirements for social media companies to be more transparent and afford stronger protections for young people using these platforms. This includes limiting the ability of social media companies to target advertisements toward young people. Despite the broad bipartisan Senate support for both measures, it remains unclear at this time whether the House will consider the legislation when lawmakers return in September. 

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor 

By Layla Alagic in Public Policy
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House Lays Out Next Steps for FY25 | Legislative Update

Friday, May 24th, 2024

Over the last two weeks, lawmakers in the House laid out next steps for the the federal appropriations process while Congressional leaders elsewhere made announcements related to artificial intelligence (AI) and workforce development. Elsewhere, lawmakers are considering a new Farm Bill proposal while a new cohort of Presidential Scholars was recently announced. 

House Lays Out Roadmap for FY25 Appropriations

House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) announced in recent weeks preliminary allocation totals for each of the 12 individual appropriations bills that compose the federal budget for the upcoming 2025 federal fiscal year (FY25). Known as 302(b) allocations, these topline funding totals are used by appropriations leaders on the committee to craft FY25 funding legislation later this year. This includes the Labor-HHS-ED funding bill which provides support for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) among other education and workforce development programs. The proposed 302(b) allocation for the Labor-HHS-ED funding bill is significantly lower than the total provided for this component of the federal budget in FY24. This means that the House Appropriations Committee is likely to propose significant cuts to domestic programs falling under this legislation as the Committee put forward last year.

In addition, Chair Cole released a tentative schedule to consider each of the dozen appropriations bills. The Labor-HHS-ED measure is expected to be considered at the subcommittee level on June 27 and by the full Appropriations Committee on July 10. This week the full House Appropriations Committee approved these 302(b) allocations on a party line vote 32-21. Similar announcements are still forthcoming in the Senate. As these efforts take shape, Advance CTE will continue to advocate for the significant funding needs of the Career Technical Education (CTE) community and other key education and workforce priorities this year.  

Senate Releases New AI Roadmap

A bipartisan group of Senators led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Senator Todd Young (R-IN), released a long-anticipated report regarding AI. The report or “roadmap” lays out a vision for future federal policymaking efforts, including a set of recommendations for Congress and the Biden administration to consider as AI technologies continue to mature and expand in their use. The report covers several policy areas including workforce development, encouraging the development of career pathways that lead to opportunities in AI. The roadmap also recommends that policymakers consider new regulatory frameworks to mitigate the potential negative impacts AI technologies may have on incumbent workers and ways to promote worker skills training opportunities in this area. Broadly, the report calls on the federal government to invest at least $32 billion on an annual basis to support the further development of AI technologies, promote wider innovation, and ensure wider equitable adoption and use of these emerging technologies.

View the AI Roadmap

Department of Commerce Unveils Workforce Policy Agenda

Recently the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) announced a Department Administrative Order (DAO) that establishes a workforce policy agenda for the agency. The agenda is intended to assist DOC in the ongoing implementation of several broad federal investments including the CHIPS and Science Act which contains several workforce development components to support the legislation’s broader aims of developing a more robust advanced manufacturing and semiconductor capacity here in the United States. The DAO lays out a set of principles to guide workforce development investments as well as wider Biden administration goals of developing quality employment opportunities for a broader cross-section of Americans.

Read the DAO

House Examines HHS FY25 Budget

Last week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing to examine the policies and priorities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The hearing featured testimony from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra who spoke to the Biden administration’s recent federal fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget request. Secretary Becerra responded to a wide range of questions including the importance of policies and investments supporting access to quality childcare as well as wider healthcare workforce needs.

View an archived webcast of the hearing, including the Secretary’s written testimony and related opening statements from lawmakers

CTE Presidential Scholars Announced

This week the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars announced the 60th cohort of U.S. Presidential Scholars—an initiative that annually recognizes 161 high school seniors for academic, career and technical and artistic achievements. The selection process takes into consideration a number of criteria including transcripts and test scores. Each year, this program features 20 CTE scholars for their outstanding achievements and recognizes related accomplishments.

View the full list of scholars 

House Agriculture Committee Plans Vote on Federal Nutrition Programs

The House Agriculture Committee considered the 2024 Farm Bill this week, a $1.5 trillion legislative package that includes significant changes to federal agriculture and school nutrition programs. The legislation, unveiled by Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) earlier this week, includes major components of the Creating Access to Rural Employment and Education for Resilience and Success (CAREERS) Act (H.R. 7015)—legislation that Advance CTE supported and endorsed earlier this year. Advance CTE has expressed support for the inclusion of the CAREERS Act among other aspects of the proposal. The committee considered the legislation yesterday and approved measure by a margin of 33-21. 

DOL Unveils New AI and Worker Well-Being Principles

This week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a set of principles on AI and worker well-being. The principles were developed in response to an earlier Executive Order (EO) from President Biden on AI last year and are intended to support workforce development professionals and employers in the deployment, development, and subsequent use of AI and related technologies. The principles focus particularly on mitigating potential negative impacts on workers of AI while balancing the need for innovation and economic growth.

Read the principles 

Steve Voytek, policy advisor

By Layla Alagic in Public Policy
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