Take a look at the latest resource from NASDCTEc to learn about changes in federal funding for Career Technical Education (CTE) over the last two decades. Funding levels for Basic State Grants, National Programs and Tech Prep are listed in addition to total appropriations for each fiscal year from 1991 through 2011.
To view the document, please click: Federal Appropriations for Career Technical Education: Fiscal Year 1991-2011.
Today the House (260-167) and Senate (81-19) passed H.R. 1473, the long-term continuing resolution that will fund the federal government through the end of FY11 (September 30, 2011). Once signed into law by the President, the bill will cut $39.9 billion from federal programs, including eliminating Tech Prep and cutting the Perkins Basic State Grant by $35 million. The Department of Education has 30 days to release details on the cuts to individual programs, including how the cuts will affect each state.
Late last night Speaker of the House John Boehner (OH) introduced H.R. 1363, a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the Department of Defense though the end of September and fund the rest of the federal government for one week. If passed by the House and Senate, this bill would avoid a government shutdown when the current CR expires on April 8.
This bill proposes to cut federal programs by $12 billion below current spending levels. The Department of Education would be cut by $391 million, including $30.9 million from Adult Education State Grants. In our reading of the bill, Tech Prep appears to be safe for the time being.
But that does not mean we will stay safe. This CR once again prolongs the passage of a final spending bill that will fund the government through the end of September. Because the negotiations continue, we may still be vulnerable to cuts. This is a reminder to call your Congressman and let him or her know that value of Tech Prep and CTE in their district and state.
Yesterday NASDCTEc, along with ACTE, AACC, and the Council of Chief State School Officers, sent a letter to the Senate signed by 168 businesses, employer groups and national organizations that voiced their support for maintaining Tech Prep funding. This tremendous show of support should go a long way in letting the Senate know that Perkins, and Tech Prep in particular, is vital to ensuring that the next generation of skilled workers is trained and ready to fill the jobs offered by these businesses.
If a business or businesses from your state signed on to the letter, please be sure to let them know how much you appreciate their support!
This morning the Senate passed H.J. Res. 44, a short term continuing resolution that will fund the government until March 18. The House and Senate now have two additional weeks to work out a compromise on a longer term funding bill.
The bill funds most programs at current FY10 levels, but there were $4 billion in cuts. Tech Prep is not one of the programs cut in this bill, but Section 117 of Perkins, Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational Institutions, was cut. This program awards grants to eligible tribally controlled postsecondary CTE institutions to provide basic support for the education and training of Native American students in CTE programs and for institutional support of tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institutions.
While the maintenance of Tech Prep funding in this bill is an achievement, and shows that the advocacy efforts of the CTE community are making a difference, the fight is not over. This bill buys Congress additional time to work out a compromise, but Republicans in the House remained committed to deep cuts, of which Tech Prep could still be one. If we stop the fight now, Congress will not think Tech Prep and Perkins funding are important to their constituents or understand the affect these programs have on their state and district.
Please continue the great advocacy work you have been doing:
This work could truly make a difference!
On Friday the House Appropriations Committee unveiled a short term continuing resolution (CR) that, if passed by the Senate and signed by the President, would fund the government until March 18, allowing time for a compromise to be reached on a longer term funding bill. Passage of this CR will prevent a government shut down that could otherwise occur on March 4. The CR contains funding to allow government agencies and programs to continue operating at current spending levels for the next two weeks, except for several programs that will be terminated or cut.
These cuts and eliminations total $4 billion in spending reductions, however, Tech Prep is not one of the programs targeted for cuts in this bill. While this is significant, and shows that the advocacy efforts of the CTE community are making an impact, the fight is not over. This bill buys Congress additional time to work out a compromise, but Republicans in the House remained committed to deep cuts, of which Tech Prep could still be one.
Please continue to call your Members of Congress to urge them not to cut Perkins Tech Prep funding!