Twitter icon
Facebook icon
LinkedIn icon
YouTube icon



Posts Tagged ‘workforce development’

« Older Entries

Strong Employer Partnerships That Are Shaping Tomorrow’s CTE

Friday, November 15th, 2024

Advance CTE recently held a panel on engaging employers at this year’s Fall Meeting, bringing together experts from education, industry, and workforce development to discuss how we can better align education and industry needs, create impactful partnerships, and prepare learners for the careers of tomorrow. The bottom line? Employers are essential partners in shaping Career Technical Education (CTE).

Building Bridges Between Education and Industry 

We need to bring education and industry closer than ever. As Kevin Imes, Arizona State CTE Director, emphasized, “Employers and educators need to be at the table together—at these conferences and beyond these walls.” The panelists highlighted the need for more proactive efforts to align curriculum with the actual skills and competencies that employers are looking for.

From a state perspective, Kevin Imes shared how Arizona is working to bridge this gap through its Education Economic Commission, which is renewing and reinventing career pathways to better align with industry needs. This effort includes facilitating more direct communication between industry and education to ensure that career pathways are not only relevant but also responsive to the dynamic labor market.

When Should Employer Engagement Start? 

According to our panelists, the earlier, the better —ideally during the Career Awareness and Career Exploration stages, well before learners enter the workforce.

Dr. Joy Rich, Manager of Workforce Development and Community Relationships at Nissan North America, shared how Nissan is taking proactive steps to engage learners through their Nissan Technician Training Academy (NTTA). Through this program, learners gain hands-on experience in automotive diagnosis and repair, preparing them for careers as factory-trained technicians at Nissan and Infiniti dealerships. These types of training programs provide learners with a clear pathway to well-paying, in-demand, and stable careers right out of high school, showing how early employer engagement can make a big difference.

Durable Skills Are Essential

A major theme from the session was the increasing importance of durable skills in today’s workforce. Employers like Patti Taylor, Director of Student Health Careers at Banner Health, discussed how competencies like critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to adapt to emerging technologies such as AI are becoming just as essential as technical skills. In fields like healthcare and IT, where new technology is constantly evolving, employers are looking for workers who can perform technical tasks and think critically and adjust to new challenges. This insight is invaluable for educators who are preparing learners for the realities of the workplace.

Real-World Skills, Real-World Partners 

A standout example of how employers can create strong partnerships with education institutions came from Nissan’s Center of Excellence, which is deeply involved with initiatives like SkillsUSA and Nissan University. These collaborations help learners gain industry-specific certifications and participate in apprenticeship programs, all while building strong relationships between education providers and employers. Dr. Rich emphasized that “being skills-based over degree-based removes those barriers to entry,” making it easier for students to find success in fields that align with their interests and abilities.

Employers also play a crucial role in identifying skill gaps in CTE spaces. As Patti Taylor pointed out, employers should take a hands-on approach to shaping curricula, working directly with educators to ensure that the learners’ skills match the job requirements they will face in the real world. For example, industry day visits to schools—where employers showcase lesser-known career opportunities in fields like IT and finance within healthcare—help learners better understand the breadth of career options available to them.

Navigating Liability and Legal Barriers in Work-Based Learning

Dr. Rich shared valuable advice on how employers and education leaders can work together to overcome the barrier of liability in work-based learning, suggesting that schools and employers bring labor law expertise into the conversation early on. According to a 2023 report from the National Apprenticeship Training Foundation, over 40% of employers cite concerns about liability as a barrier to offering internships or apprenticeships. Legal ambiguities related to worker classification and wage laws often contribute to this hesitation. Understanding the legalities of internships and apprenticeships ensures learners can gain valuable experience without risking exposure to unnecessary liability issues.

The Big Takeaway: Collaboration is Everything

The big takeaway for state CTE leaders and educators? Keep building strong, ongoing relationships between industry and education. As Dr. Rich said, “Be that aggregator, be that branch because industry partners want to work with you, but the barriers need to be removed.” When asked what one word they’d leave the audience with, all the panelists agreed—collaboration.

In workforce development, education and industry partnerships help to align curriculum with industry needs, provide opportunities for real-world experience, and focus on skills over degrees to ensure that learners are not only ready for the workforce but are equipped to thrive in it.

Vania Iscandari, senior policy associate

By Layla Alagic in Meetings and Events
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Driving Change to Build a Better Workforce | 2024 Fall Meeting Diamond Sponsor: SkillsUSA

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024

As the leading workforce development organization for learners, SkillsUSA is proud to be leading the way to help America’s future workforce. Approaching our 65th anniversary in 2030, we continue to focus on preparing learners for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. With the support of over 850 national partners, SkillsUSA is committed to addressing our nation’s workforce challenges with bold solutions and steadfast dedication. 

Five Tenets to Drive Access to CTE

The SkillsUSA Drive to 65 Campaign reflects our commitment to expanding programs that empower CTE learners and connect them to career paths, employers, and jobs. The five tenets of our new strategic plan are to:

Bridging the Gap Between Education and Industry

Bridging the gap between education and industry is crucial as SkillsUSA is committed to aligning learners’ careers with their skills and job opportunities. We provide essential support for teachers and instructors, connecting them with industry for program support, employability training, and mentorship.

Workplace Learning for More Learners

Creating workplace learning experiences (WPLE) that encompass work-based learning (WBL) equips learners with essential skills. These experiences grow in complexity as learners advance, incorporating quality non-degree credentials aligned with the SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards and our Championships competition program.

This year, SkillsUSA has launched new workplace learning experiences for middle school, high school, and postsecondary learners. Our resources are designed for easy classroom implementation, serving as gateways to industry experiences. Participation in WBL significantly increases personal income and career satisfaction, especially for disadvantaged youth. SkillsUSA is committed to advancing the needs of marginalized learners, providing positive relationships with adults, exposure to new environments, and opportunities to develop social capital.

Realizing Our Incredible Potential

Building a talent pipeline for America has always been our focus — and this focus has never been more vital. SkillsUSA aligns with Advance CTE’s vision where each learner engages in a cohesive, flexible, and responsive career preparation ecosystem. 

Join us in our national movement to boost learner outcomes. Together, we can lift up learners and build thriving communities. Align with us, get involved in our work-based learning initiatives, and join us at the local, state, or national levels to grow the talent pipeline. Connect with our team to receive updates on our progress on the SkillsUSA Drive to 65.

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
Tags: , , ,

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
Tags: , , , , ,

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
Tags: , , , , , ,

Presidential Election Comes Into Focus, Congress Continues Work on Funding | Legislative Update

Friday, July 26th, 2024

Over the last two weeks, lawmakers have continued to work on federal funding legislation for the next fiscal year while the ongoing Presidential campaign comes into sharper focus. Elsewhere, Congress and federal agencies have been considering learner privacy legislation and efforts to increase learner internet connectivity. 

FY25 Appropriations Continue to Take Shape

This week both the House and the Senate remained in session. In the House, Republican leadership attempted to advance several federal fiscal year 2025 (FY25) appropriations measures through the full chamber. While lawmakers narrowly passed five of the annual dozen appropriations measures by late Thursday this week, these efforts have largely stalled due to inadequate support within the House Republican conference for the remaining funding bills. The Labor-HHS-ED appropriations bill—the funding measure that provides funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act (Perkins V)—is among the measures with an uncertain future and although House leadership has indicated they will revisit this issue following the Congress’ upcoming August recess period.

As a reminder, the House FY25 Labor-HHS-ED funding measure proposes a $10 million increase for Perkins V’s state grant program and requests the U.S. Department of Education clarify its intent to regulate the federal investment in CTE later this year. However, the proposal also envisions significant funding reductions for many other workforce and education programs. Advance CTE and partners recently issued a statement regarding this proposal. The House has now adjourned a week early to begin the August recess period and lawmakers are expected to return to Capitol Hill in early September.

Meanwhile in the Senate, lawmakers have established topline spending caps for each of the dozen appropriations bills that compose the federal budget, including the FY25 Labor-HHS-ED funding measure. Importantly, this topline cap is higher than the House’s, indicating that the Senate is likely to take a different direction for workforce and education funding in the upcoming fiscal year. Next week, the Senate appropriations committee will formally consider and markup its FY25 proposal for Perkins V funding and other critical education and workforce development programs. 

As these efforts continue to take shape, Advance CTE will continue to advocate for robust investments in Perkins V’s state grant program.  

President Biden Ends Campaign and Endorses Vice President Harris

Over the past weekend, President Joe Biden formally announced that he was ending his Presidential campaign. Shortly after this announcement, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Throughout the week many leaders in the Democratic Party have followed suit and announced their support of her candidacy. Prior to becoming Vice President in the current administration, Harris served as the U.S. Senator from California where she advocated for public K-12 education, teacher pay, and increased access to and support for postsecondary education and job training. 

Former President Trump Names J.D. Vance as VP Candidate

Last week Congressional Republicans headed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the party’s national convention. During the event, former President Donald Trump announced that he selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his running mate. Vance was first elected to the Senate in 2022 and rose to prominence with the publication of a book entitled Hillbilly Elegy. During his time in the Senate, Vance has a limited record on education issues but has co-sponsored several pieces of legislation prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in schools as well as proposing to allow bipartisan Safer Communities Act funding to be used for hunting, archery, and gun shooting programs. He has also supported bans on cell phone use in classrooms. 

FCC To Allow Hotspots for E-Rate

Last week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted in favor of a new order authorizing the use of E-Rate program funding for Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet access services. The 3-2 vote largely broke along party lines, with two Republican Commissioners arguing that the order goes beyond the FCC’s existing statutory authority. The order is aligned with FCC Chair Rosenworcel’s “Learn Without Limits” initiative which broadly calls for more innovative uses of E-Rate resources to increase access to the internet while allocating additional funding for several pilot projects including Wi-Fi on buses.

Senate Considers Learner Privacy Legislation

This week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that the Senate would take a procedural step to advance two pieces of federal data privacy legislation intended to protect children online. This includes the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens Online Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). Both measures appear to have bipartisan support and would strengthen protections for youth online. Yesterday, the Senate advanced these measures by a wide margin and is set to further consider them next week. 

ED To Enforce Title IX Rule Next Month

This week the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it intends to enforce recently updated Title IX regulations set to go into effect August 1 of this year. As a reminder, the regulations would establish a more uniform grievance process for schools and institutions adjudicating allegations of discrimination or misconduct. The rule also codifies new protections for LGBTQ+ learners, staff, and others against discrimination, including discrimination based on one’s gender identity. However, 26 State Attorney Generals have sued to block the rule and lawmakers in the House recently voted in favor of repealing the new regulation. These efforts have led to several court injunctions, blocking the rule from going into effect in many of these same states. In anticipation of beginning to enforce the new regulation where it is currently permitted to do so, OCR has published several new resources to support states and schools to comply with these new requirements. 

Read more on the amendments

DOL Announces New Round of Community College Training Grants 

This month, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of new funding through a fifth round of Strengthening Community College Training Grants (SCCTG)– a program authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) that provides resources for community colleges to develop and provide robust training opportunities for learners. Applications for this funding are due September 24, 2024. Advance CTE is strongly supportive of the SCCTG program and is currently advocating for its codification in WIOA as discussions continue regarding reauthorization of this legislation. 

Read more about the round of grants

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor 

By Layla Alagic in Public Policy
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

State CTE Policy Update: Meeting Healthcare Workforce Demands through Career and Technical Education

Thursday, May 30th, 2024

As states grapple with ongoing healthcare workforce shortages, Career and Technical Education (CTE) has proven to be a viable means of equipping future healthcare professionals to meet labor demands while ensuring that communities have access to high-quality care. In this blog, Policy Associate Velie Sando highlights state policies that invest in healthcare CTE programs to resolve labor shortages.

In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, the strains on the healthcare system continue to be felt, with labor shortages persisting across the nation. To address this pressing challenge, states are increasingly turning to Career Technical Education (CTE) as a vital means of preparing learners for the demands of the healthcare workforce. By investing in CTE programs, states can ensure a steady supply of qualified healthcare professionals to meet the evolving needs of their communities. Investment in healthcare CTE programs as a solution to medical staffing shortages aligns with Advance CTE’s Without Limits: A Shared Vision for the Future of Career Technical Education (CTE Without Limits), which emphasizes CTE’s central role in facilitating learner access to education and training opportunities that meet industry demands. 

Enacted this year, the following policies reflect initiatives that invest in healthcare CTE to meet workforce demands– 

Florida: Empowering Future Healthcare Practitioners

Florida Senate Bill 7016 required lab schools to develop programs to accelerate learner entry  into health care programs at their affiliated universities or public/private postsecondary institutions. This bill also created the Teach, Education, and Clinicals in Health (TEACH) Funding Program which supports federally qualified health centers in offsetting the costs of training learners to become licensed healthcare practitioners. By investing in training programs and incentivizing partnerships with healthcare facilities, Florida is not only preparing learners for careers in healthcare but also addressing the immediate needs of the workforce. 

Washington: Expanding Career Pathways through Allied Health Program

In Washington, House Bill 2236 tasked the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) (in collaboration with health and CTE institutions) with developing an Allied Health Professions Career and Technical Education Program. This program is designed to matriculate a continuous pipeline of healthcare professionals into allied health positions through partnerships with secondary institutions where learners are equipped through career exploration and professional development. This program expands upon Washington’s Core Plus program, which provides two-year CTE instruction programs to prepare learners for employment in various fields. By including healthcare as part of this program, Washington is creating structured pathways for learners to enter the healthcare workforce, thus bridging the gap between education and employment. 

Wisconsin: Streamlining Pathways to Employment in Healthcare

Wisconsin Senate Bill 671 amends current legislation that addresses healthcare workforce shortages by allowing healthcare providers to hire learners enrolled in approved nurse aide training programs as full-time nurse aides after completing 16 hours of classroom training. The amendment allows healthcare providers to hire learners who complete the same training as part-time nurse aides provided that such learners obtain their certifications within 120 calendar days. This streamlines the pathway to employment for aspiring nurse aides, ensuring a steady influx of qualified professionals into the workforce. By incentivizing learners to enter the workforce, Wisconsin is bolstering access to healthcare while also addressing workforce shortages. 

To see more policy trends and access our policy tracker, check out our  State Policy Resources page.

Velie Sando, Policy Associate

By Jodi Langellotti in Public Policy
Tags: , , , , , , ,

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
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

House Examines ED’s Policies and Priorities | Legislative Update

Friday, May 10th, 2024

This week the lawmakers in the House hosted the U.S. Secretary of Education (ED) to testify regarding the agency’s policies and priorities for the coming year. In addition, the Senate examined the U.S. Department of Labor’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year while ED issues new guidance regarding school and institution’s civil rights obligations. 

Cardona Questioned on Perkins Regulations

On Tuesday, May 7, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing focused on oversight of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and its wider policies and priorities. The more than four hour hearing featured testimony from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona who responded to a wide range of questions and topics from lawmakers on the panel. These included a particular focus on ED’s ongoing challenges in implementing a newly revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and newly finalized Title IX regulations which are set to go into effect later this summer.

In addition, Rep. “GT” Thompson (R-PA) questioned Cardona regarding ED’s plans to issue new regulations for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) and highlighted the significant negative disruption this would have on states and Perkins recipients nearly six years after the law’s passage as communities collectively begin a new four-year planning cycle for the legislation. Thompson questioned Cardona as to whether programs funded by Perkins V are actively responding to the needs of the labor market and whether the law’s implementation, more broadly, has been successful. Significantly, Cardona responded yes to both of these questions and went on to say that he believes, “…that the evolution of Perkins to include CTE is where we need to go and it has been successful to get states to look at it differently.” 

When questioned further regarding the need for additional regulations for Perkins V, Cardona indicated that the planned proposed rules would be intended to broaden opportunities for learners to engage in “earn to learn” programs but did not specify a clear rationale for issuing new rules on the topic at this time nor did he provide further detail regarding what these regulations are likely to entail. Advance CTE has continued to raise significant concerns regarding these forthcoming regulations and has questioned why they are specifically necessary at this point in the law’s implementation. 

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

Senate Examines DOL’s FY25 Budget Request

Yesterday, May 9, the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-ED) Subcommittee held a hearing to examine and consider President Biden’s budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for the upcoming 2025 federal fiscal year (FY25). The hearing featured testimony and perspectives from Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su regarding aspects of the agency’s FY25 budget request. The hearing examined a broad range of issues, including recent regulatory changes proposed or otherwise finalized by DOL, and highlighted the importance of workforce development investments.

View a full recording of the hearing including Su’s testimony

ED Issues New Guidance on Civil Rights Obligations

On Tuesday, May 7, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a new Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) outlining school leaders’ responsibilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The DCL provides detailed scenarios and guidelines for identifying acts that could be considered discriminatory, including vandalism, protests, and verbal harassment. The guidance letter clarifies the legal requirements schools and institutions must adhere to in order to remain compliant with federal laws and emphasizes that non-compliance could lead ED to withhold federal funding. The guidance comes amid reported increases in antisemitic and other identity-based incidents on college campuses and within K-12 schools over the past several months.

View more information from ED on the guidance

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor 

By Layla Alagic in Public Policy
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

State Innovations in Career Technical Education: Building a Clean Energy Workforce

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024

To solve pressing climate-related challenges including droughts, forest fires, sea level rise and others, the nation needs a workforce prepared to address those challenges. The clean energy sector, in particular, helps provide solutions for the future of the planet, and the economic case for expanded investment in clean energy jobs is clear: in 2022, clean energy jobs grew in every state and, with a national 3.9% job growth, outpaced national employment growth.1 To prepare young people for the future of this emerging economy, states and local education agencies are turning to Career Technical Education (CTE) to develop both the technical and academic skills needed while providing specialized training to ensure learners are environmentally aware and can enter into environmentally-focused careers.

Some states focus on a broad strokes approach that expands access to the sector as a whole. Last year, Massachusetts created a Clean Energy Innovation Career Pathway, to “inspire the next generation of clean energy experts in Massachusetts by providing students experiential learning opportunities in the field.” In September 2023, six high schools began piloting this pathway. The state also announced multiple financial investments in the development of training opportunities, including a $2.5 million grant to Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology to create their Center for Energy Efficiency and the Trades and achieve a goal of connecting 50% of graduates to climate-connected occupations by 2026.

Other states developed more focused career-specific pathways in close collaboration with industry partners. Georgia, for example, developed an electric vehicle career pathway in response to a $5 billion investment from electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian, who seeks to hire 7,500 workers across four counties in Georgia. This type of approach reveals the importance of employer partners who can demonstrate and speak to the value of CTE training programs for the clean energy sector.

Local education agencies are also adopting hyperlocal programs in response to hyperlocal need. The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School focuses on preparing learners specifically for maritime careers, and is focused heavily on careers centered on the clean workforce, including in marine biology research, aquaculture, and ocean technologies, among other pathways. They have partnered with the Billion Oyster Project to provide learners with hands-on experiences and direct connection to mentors in the industry, in turn developing young practitioners eager to engage in this space. The Billion Oyster Project reports engaging with over 11,000 New York City students since 2014.

Environmental education, climate literacy, and exposure to workforce opportunity are vital to recruitment and retention of young people in the clean energy space. To prepare for the economic future of this emerging space, high quality and equitable CTE needs to remain at the forefront to ensure that all young people can find, decide on and engage in these types of future careers.  

Advance CTE is currently doing work in environmental education by partnering with the Delaware Department of Education to explore the future environmental literacy competencies within and across Delaware Pathways. Read about the project

Read more about policies enacted in CTE Clean Energy and Renewables and other CTE-related policy trends of 2023 in State Policies Impacting CTE: 2023 Year in Review.

Dan Hinderliter, associate director, state policy

By Layla Alagic in Public Policy
Tags: , , , , , , ,

House Passes WIOA Bill as ED Promotes FY25 Budget | Legislative Update

Friday, April 12th, 2024

This week lawmakers reconvened following a spring recess period to address a number of pressing issues. In addition, lawmakers in the House advanced legislation to reauthorize federal workforce development legislation while the U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona testified before lawmakers regarding the Biden administration’s most recent budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. 

Secretary Cardona Testifies on FY25 Budget Request

This week the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS-ED)—the entity responsible for determining funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) and other critical education and workforce development legislation—held a hearing to examine the Biden administration’s federal fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget request for the U.S. Department of Education (ED). 

The hearing featured testimony from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona who focused his remarks on the broad aims of ED’s FY25 budget request. Lawmakers discussed a broad array of topics at the hearing, including forthcoming Title IX regulations that are expected to be released by ED later this year and ongoing efforts to enforce civil rights protections for students. Lawmakers discussed other elements of the FY25 ED budget, including proposed increases in funding for newly proposed programs contained in the budget request. An archived webcast of the hearing, including testimony, can be accessed here. 

House Republicans Elect Rep. Cole to Lead Appropriations Committee

Current House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (R-TX) announced last month that she planned to step down from this leadership role. Since then, longtime House Appropriations leader Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) was heavily favored to succeed Granger in this critical post. This week, the House Republican Steering Committee met and recommended Cole for this role and the full House Republican conference voted to ratify him as chairman. The move is expected to likely shift additional appropriations leaders on the committee in the future. In addition, Cole has stepped down as Chair of the House Rules Committee, with Rep. Burgess (R-TX) set to succeed him on this important committee. 

House Passes WIOA Reauthorization Proposal

Earlier this week lawmakers in the House formally considered H.R. 6655—legislation that would reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Advance CTE and partners provided feedback on this proposal but did not endorse the legislation when it was passed by the House Education and Workforce Committee late last year. Lawmakers considered the legislation under suspension of the rules, meaning there was limited time for debate or wider efforts to dramatically change the legislation following its advancement last December. House lawmakers ultimately passed the legislation on a wide bipartisan margin, 378-26.  

Despite the passage of this legislation, the future for H.R. 6655 remains uncertain. Senate leaders on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, including Chair Sanders (D-VT) and Ranking Member Cassidy (R-LA), are currently working to negotiate a separate legislative proposal to reauthorize WIOA potentially later this spring. As these efforts continue to take shape, Advance CTE will continue to advocate for the organization’s WIOA recommendations to improve future federal workforce development legislation as it continues through the wider legislative process. 

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor 

By Layla Alagic in Public Policy
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

« Older Entries

 

Series

Archives

1