CTE Policy Watch: A blog for CTE advocates

DC Digest: May 9-15

Last week in Washington, both chambers of Congress were in session and several CTE-related items saw legislative action, including the America COMPETES Act/USICA, where the conference committee met for the first time, and a bill to support CTE program graduates in small businesses. Other subjects at the top of Congress’s priorities last week included confirming the Federal Reserve chairman to an additional term, negotiating a supplemental aid package for Ukraine, COVID-19 restaurant and entertainment recovery aid and security assistance for Supreme Court justices. This week, both chambers will be in session to hold votes and hearings. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is set to testify on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request for the Department of Labor, while reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is expected to be considered on the House floor. Here are some news and notes to start your week:

• House Holds Hearing on Aviation and Aerospace Workforce: On May 12, the House Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development held a hearing on the innovation and workforce needs of the aviation and aerospace industries. While this hearing spoke broadly of the challenges that aviation and aerospace small businesses are facing, CTE and apprenticeships were consistently highlighted as critical to their health and success. Read more about the hearing here.

• Department of Education Announces Presidential CTE Scholars: On May 12, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 58th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, which recognizes 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, arts and CTE. 20 outstanding CTE scholars were recognized this year. Learn more about the award winners here.

• Bill to Support CTE Graduates Passed by House Small Business Committee: H.R. 7664, the Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act, passed out of the House Small Business Committee on May 13. The bill will assist small businesses in hiring graduates from CTE programs and assist graduates with additional support to start their own businesses. ACTE has endorsed this legislation.

• Department of Labor Issues Guidance on Allotments, Application Process for Workforce Investment Programs: The Department of Labor announced that the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has issued guidance to inform states and outlying areas about their formula allotments and the process to apply for WIOA Youth, Adult and Dislocated Worker activities, Wagner-Peyser and Workforce Information Grants for the start of the program year on July 1, 2022. View the guidance here and a PDF on submitting Federal Register comments here.

• Department of Labor Announces Funding to Support Women in Registered Apprenticeships: The Department of Labor has announced $3.4 million in funding for up to nine grants to attract and keep women in registered apprenticeship programs in industries where women are underrepresented, such as manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity and healthcare. Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration and Women’s Bureau, the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program supports community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train and retain more women in Registered Apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations. Apply for the grants here.

• America COMPETES/USICA Conference Update: On May 12, over 100 Members of Congress began the formal conference committee negotiations to resolve differences between the House-passed America COMPETES Act and the Senate’s version of the bill, known as the USICA. The legislation is designed to boost semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and improve economic competitiveness with China. The America COMPETES Act contains two of ACTE’s top legislative priorities, the College Transparency Act (CTA) and language similar to the JOBS Act. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said the bill would help “build a strong and diverse” scientific and technological workforce and “make use of all the brainpower and talent we have.”

House Holds Hearing on Aviation and Aerospace Workforce

On May 12, the House Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development held a hearing on the innovation and workforce needs of the aviation and aerospace industries. While this hearing spoke broadly of the challenges that aviation and aerospace small businesses are facing, CTE and apprenticeships were consistently highlighted as critical to the health and success of these industries.  

The hearing featured four expert witnesses:  

• Eric Fanning, President & CEO of Aerospace Industries Association 
• M.L. Mackey, CEO of Beacon Interactive Systems on behalf of the National Defense Industrial Association 
• Blake Scholl, Founder & CEO of Boom Technology, Inc.  
• Judy Burns, President of Patriot Machine  

In the opening statements, Chairman Jason Crow (D-CO) and Ranking Member Young Kim (R-CA) both emphasized the critical state of the labor shortage in the aviation industry. Ranking Member Kim (R-CA) referenced a study that stated the United States will lose half of its pilots to retirement in 15 years and that the skills gap in manufacturing and maintenance has caused a loss of 2 million jobs that would otherwise be available to be filled by qualified workers. Chairman Crow (D-CO) pointed to the recent Federal Aviation Administration and National Defense Act reauthorizations, which both provided grants for technical training related to aviation and aerospace careers.  

One consistent theme throughout the witness testimony was the critical role that CTE and apprenticeship opportunities play in preparing workers in this industry. Mr. Fanning, who was formerly the Secretary of the Army, urged Congress to expand federal support for CTE in order to grow the STEM workforce, reskill workers for emerging industries, and promote diversity and inclusion. Similarly, Ms. Burns, the founder and owner of an aerospace small business, specifically pointed out community college programs with a technical focus as a critical place to direct federal funds. Ranking Member Kim (R-CA) used the hearing as an opportunity to highlight an apprenticeship program at San Bernadino Valley College as a model for success in expanding work-based learning in these industries. 

Further, legislators and expert witnesses both mentioned the need for exposure to aviation and aerospace careers as early as elementary school. Mr. Fanning and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) agreed that focus should be given to making these career pathways more visible, including those that require CTE. Mr. Fanning noted that, as a country, we need to do a better job of explaining these CTE pathways to both parents and schools.  

Department of Education Announces Presidential CTE Scholars

On May 12, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 58th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, which recognizes 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, arts and CTE. 20 outstanding CTE scholars were recognized this year. 

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects these scholars each year based on academic success, technical excellence, essays, transcripts and a commitment to community service and leadership. 

The 20 scholars in CTE recognized this year include: 

• Hailey Mackenzie Mullins, Montgomery, Alabama - Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School 

• Aiden Baldree Toole, APO - Kadena High School 
• Ayva Francesca Kacir, Scottsdale, Arizona - Desert Mountain High School 
• Salil Naik, Glendale, Arizona - Mountain Ridge High School 
• Lydia Marie Pastore, Mesa, Arizona - Red Mountain High School 
• Karen Netto, Bear, Delaware- MOT Charter High School 

• Sreeya Pittala, Newark, Delaware - Newark Charter Junior/Senior High School 
• Ayush G. Gundawar, Cumming, Georgia - South Forsyth High School 
• Rishi Patel, Naperville, Illinois - Waubonsie Valley High School 
• Jaisnav Rajesh, Naperville, Illinois - Waubonsie Valley High School 
• Piya Shah, Naperville, Illinois - Waubonsie Valley High School 

• Maxwell J. Aulwes, Chariton, Iowa - Chariton High School 
• Kayla McKenzie Moore, Bostic, North Carolina - East Rutherford High School 
• Brighton E. Snow, Washington, Oklahoma - Washington High School 
• John T. Soscia, Cranston, Rhode Island - Cranston High School West 
• Jorge Adrian Jasso, Brownsville, Texas - Homer Hanna High School 

• Tristan Matthew Lee, San Antonio, Texas - Theodore Roosevelt High School 
• Alan Z. H. Mo, Murray, Utah - Skyline High School 
• Cameron David Pokorny, Waupun, Wisconsin - Waupun Senior High School 
• Daphne Joyce Wu, Middleton, Wisconsin - Middleton High School 

Each of the award winners have demonstrated excellence in their chosen CTE programs. Students receiving the award have participated in participated in internships, served as CTSO leaders at the state level and more. 

Congratulations to all of the 2022 Presidential Scholars! You can view the full list of Presidential Scholars at the link above.

DC Digest: May 2-8

Last week in Washington, the House was out of session, but Members of Congress were largely focused on abortion rights after the surprise leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion. In CTE-related news, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) led the reintroduction of the RAISE Act, a bill to boost teacher pay and support recruitment and retention efforts for the educator workforce. In addition, the Senate completed 28 votes, known as “motions to instruct,” for conferees to begin bicameral negotiations on the America COMPETES Act/USICA. We are also awaiting the announcement of the first public meeting of the conference committee. Both chambers of Congress will return this week, where negotiations continue on COVID-19-related aid and a Ukraine supplemental aid package. Here are some news and notes for your week ahead:

• Sen. Booker, Rep. Schiff Introduce Teacher Compensation Bill: On May 3, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation that would boost compensation for all public early childhood and K-12 (including CTE) teachers. This bill, titled the RAISE Act, would provide every eligible teacher with an annual refundable tax credit between $1,000 and $15,000. Read more about the bill here.

• Senate HELP Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Supporting Broadband Workforce: On May 3, the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on supporting and developing the broadband workforce. Members of the subcommittee heard from broadband experts and stakeholders about the need to improve broadband access across the country. Read more about the hearing here.

• Cabinet Officials, Members of Congress Visit Workforce Development Programs: On May 2, Members of Congress and Cabinet officials visited workforce development programs in Virginia to highlight the importance of investing in in-demand career training programs. Read more about their visits here.

• Secretary Walsh Visits Ohio Community College, Announces Workforce Development Funding: Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh visited Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, where Boeing Co. announced more than $1 million in funding to help prepare a skilled manufacturing workforce. Read more about the Secretary’s visit here.

• Secretary of Education Cardona Supports Short-term Pell: During a visit to DC Central Kitchen with formerly incarcerated individuals, Secretary Cardona said, “I’m excited about short-term Pell.” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a Senate CTE Caucus co-chair and the lead on the JOBS Act echoed the Secretary's comments: “[I am] grateful for Secretary Cardona’s support,” and “look forward to partnering with Secretary Cardona to move it across the finish line.”

• Department of Education Announces Intent to Amend Regulations Implementing Section 504: The Department of Education announced plans to gather public input on potential amendments to Section 504 regulations to strengthen and protect the rights of students with disabilities. Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public and private programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance, including schools and postsecondary institutions. Learn more about the initiative here.

Research Roundup: COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Through CTE

Equitable Recovery through Career Pathways: National Skills Coalition released a toolkit to help policymakers, human service agency leaders and community colleges develop career pathways systems that emphasize an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The toolkit promotes building partnerships between human service agencies and postsecondary systems to address learners’ basic needs as they prepare for a high-quality career, with examples from Arkansas and Oregon.

Relatedly, America Achieves published a playbook that provides states and communities with an evidence-based approach to building a workforce system that matches individuals to high-paying and high-demand jobs. The playbook guides readers through steps to creating an employer demand-driven workforce scholarship program with an accompanying evaluation system to assess job attainment, wage gains and program quality. Additionally, the playbook features policy examples from Rhode Island’s Back to Work program and West Virginia’s Learn and Earn program.

Governors’ Education Priorities: A publication from Education Commission of the States outlines governors’ top priorities in education for 2022 by analyzing 44 State of the State addresses from this year. Among the following top six education priorities identified by the report, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic served as a backdrop for most, and workforce development and CTE ranked as governors’ second highest priority:

• The majority of governors addressed K-12 funding, with some who suggested cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic while others, such as governors from Illinois and Georgia, proposed increases.
• About 34 governors highlighted workforce development and CTE by proposing investments in job training programs using federal stimulus funds, such as Nebraska, and by calling for increased grant funding to expand CTE programs, like Missouri.
• Half of governors noted teacher staffing as an issue. As a solution, governors from states like New York proposed strengthening career pathways and creating faster routes to certification.
• Roughly 19 governors mentioned physical and mental health of student and staff as a priority. Additionally, the same number of governors focused on the issue of postsecondary affordability.
• Learning recovery and academic success was addressed by 17 governors as an issue due to the pandemic, and some governors noted investments and out-of-school opportunities as solutions.

Using Data to Improve Education-to-Workforce Pipelines: A recent brief from Education Strategy Group discusses how bringing together early childhood, K-12, higher education and workforce data can be an effective mechanism to improve the education-to-workforce pipeline. Researchers interviewed leaders from Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas and Washington to study how these states developed cross-sector data dashboards. The brief outlines lessons learned, questions for policymakers to consider and recommendations for building a cross-sector data dashboard.

Sen. Booker, Rep. Schiff Introduce Teacher Compensation Bill

On March 3, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation that would boost compensation for all public early childhood and K-12 (including CTE) teachers. This bill, titled the RAISE Act, would provide every eligible teacher with an annual refundable tax credit between $1,000 and $15,000. The size of the credit received is determined by a sliding scale based on the school poverty level   where each teacher works. ACTE has officially endorsed the RAISE Act.  

Specifically, the RAISE Act would:  

• Provide all eligible K-12 and early childhood teachers with a minimum $1,000 refundable tax credit, regardless of school poverty level. 
• Provide a refundable tax credit of up to $15,000 for early childhood teachers with a bachelor’s degree and all eligible K-12 teachers.  
• Provide a refundable tax credit of up to $10,000 for early childhood teachers with an associate’s degree or Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate. 

Additionally, the bill would invest in educator recruitment and retention programs, incentivize local education agencies to increase teacher salaries, provide labor protections to prevent the tax credit from being unfairly used in salary negotiations and increase the educator tax deduction (often used for purchases of school supplies) to $500 for all early childhood and K-12 teachers.  

This bill was strategically introduced during Teacher Appreciation Week to draw attention to the systemically low teacher pay that has threatened both teacher recruitment and retention efforts across the country. Nationally, nearly every state is reporting shortages in areas like math, science, special education and CTE. The RAISE Act would help boost teacher pay so that they can afford to stay in the profession and so more high-quality professionals may be attracted to join the teacher workforce.  

The bill was introduced with 7 original Senate co-sponsors and 24 original House co-sponsors. Should you have questions about the bill and how you can advocate for it, please reach out to ACTE Manager of Government Relations, Zach Curtis (zcurtis@acteonline.org) or ACTE Media Relations and Advocacy Associate, Jori Houck (jhouck@acteonline.org).  

Senate HELP Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Supporting Broadband Workforce

On May 3, the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on supporting and developing the broadband workforce. Members of the subcommittee heard from broadband experts and stakeholders about the need to improve broadband access across the country. 

Brent Gillum, president and CEO of Indiana telecommunications provider LightStream, described the ways that Congress can help support broadband providers. 

“A concerted effort by industry, government and educational interests will be needed to develop a skilled workforce able to meet this challenge and fulfill this national mission by deploying next generation wired and wireless networks,” said Gillum. “To develop the telecommunications jobs needed in the short-term and mid-term, Congress could help by bolstering the capabilities of postsecondary education, including two-year and four-year colleges, and other institutions and providing support for employers to expand registered apprenticeships and associated technical instruction and certification costs. 

Other measures Congress may consider would be to promote the ‘learn and earn’ model, whether through paid apprenticeships or internships. The federal government can assist in supporting such programs or individual students in seeking these training programs. It could also look to support individual state efforts, like those with reimbursement programs for employers who pay for their employees to further their trade by being reskilled or upskilled.” 

Dan Hendricks, training director for the Denver Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and the Western Colorado Joint Electrical Apprenticeship, described the benefits of registered apprenticeships.  

“The contractors who provide the on-the-job training opportunities for our apprentices know this system works,” said Hendricks. “They know when they request an apprentice from the apprenticeship, they can count on getting a quality worker. A worker whose training they had a part in crafting even if that person has not worked for them before.”

Ron Holcomb, president and CEO of Indiana utility provider Tipmont Wintek, said that Tipmont Wintek is collaborating with Faith Christian Schools in Lafayette, Indiana, to develop a pathway program in CTE, which will be open to 600-plus students from an eight-county area. This hands-on, comprehensive CTE curriculum will start in the 2022-23 school year and inspire students to consider a career path in energy or broadband IT. 

Dr. Nicol Turner Lee of the Brookings Institution said that broadband and fiberoptic technicians and customer service positions have not seen enough workers to fill those positions, especially as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed by Congress. “There are not enough available trained workers to fill these in broadband occupations, mirroring the huge vacancies in cybersecurity jobs that also required a specialized approach to recruitment and training. An added challenge in fulfilling broadband roles is the geographic distribution of workers with these skills do not often match locations where jobs are most needed, like rural areas that will be laying fiber optics.” 

You can watch the full hearing at the link above.

Cabinet Officials, Members of Congress Visit Workforce Development Programs

On May 2, Members of Congress and Cabinet officials visited workforce development programs in Virginia to highlight the importance of investing in in-demand career training programs.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and CTE Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) visited Reynolds Community College and Armstrong High School in Richmond, Virginia, on Monday to speak with students enrolled in various CTE programs.

Secretary Cardona and Sen. Kaine also met with leaders of Richmond’s Teacher Residency Program, which aims to recruit and retain teachers to serve in high-need fields and schools. At the completion of the program, students will receive a graduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and will teach in Richmond Public Schools.

In addition, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh visited Thomas Nelson Community College and The Apprentice School in Newport News, Virginia, where they held a roundtable with students, higher education officials and local business leaders to discuss the importance of workforce development programs.

Rep. Scott noted the importance of registered apprenticeships to the Newport News Shipyard and other shipbuilders in Virginia.

Several Members of Congress have visited workforce development programs and CTE schools in recent weeks, including Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY) and Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA).

DC Digest: April 25-May 1

Last week was the first week back in session for both chambers of Congress after a two-week recess. It was a busy week with Congress focused on holding its first round of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations hearings, aid to Ukraine, considering additional COVID-19 aid and restaurant relief aid, pending nominations and border policy. The House will be out of session this week, but the Senate will stay in town, where negotiations have begun on the large economic competitiveness bill, known as America COMPETES/USICA, which contains several ACTE priorities. Here are some additional news and notes for your week:

• America COMPETES/USICA Updates: On April 28, the Senate held procedural votes to launch a formal conference process with the House, and more votes on motions to instruct conferees are expected next week. Informal negotiations have been ongoing, but this marks the next official step in the legislative process. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the legislation and advocate for ACTE priorities included in the bill, including language in the House-passed America COMPETES Act similar to the JOBS Act and the College Transparency Act (CTA)!

• “Four Corners” Appropriations Leaders Meet to Discuss Fiscal Year (FY) 2023: Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), ranking member Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and ranking member Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) met for the first time in the FY 2023 funding cycle to discuss overall government funding levels. The “four corners” leaders hope to have an agreement on spending levels in the next few weeks.

• House FY 2023 Perkins Appropriations Letter Results: Recently, House CTE Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) led a letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee requesting robust funding for the Perkins Basic State Grant program in the FY 2023 budget process. You can see the final letter, which was signed by 127 House members, here. A big thank you to ACTE members for your advocacy related to the letter!

• House Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Education Budget Request: On April 28, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the House Appropriations Committee held its first hearing in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funding cycle, featuring testimony from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. During the hearing, several Members of Congress highlighted the need for strong workforce investments, although the Perkins Basic State Grant was not a topic of discussion.

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Surface Transportation Workforce: On April 27, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing to discuss bolstering the surface transportation construction workforce. The committee heard from several witnesses about the challenges that they are facing in the wake of workforce shortages, skills gaps and supply chain challenges.

• Joint Economic Committee Holds Hearing on Investments for Tomorrow: On April 27, the Joint Economic Committee of the House and Senate held a hearing titled, “Building on a Strong Foundation: Investments Today for a More Competitive Tomorrow.” You can watch the full hearing here.

• ETA Holds Webinar on Youth Apprenticeship Access in Rural Areas: On April 28, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) held a webinar to discuss youth access to apprenticeships in rural communities across the country, highlighting examples of successful partnerships in several regions. Read more about the webinar here.

• COVID Relief Funding Update: During an event this week, Department of Education announced investments from government, non-profit organizations and the private sector to support student academic and mental health recovery as part of a broader effort to help students, schools, and communities recover from the pandemic. In addition, the Department of Treasury has released additional guidance on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to emphasize they can be used for education expenses.

• Department of Education Announces Expansion of Second Chance Pell Experiment: The Department of Education has announced that it has invited 73 colleges and universities to participate in the third round of the Second Chance Pell Experiment, an initiative that provides access to federal Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals enrolled in participating programs. In related news, the White House also announced a series of activities, including education and job training initiatives, related to second chance opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons.

• Department of Education Announces Presidential Scholars Finalists: The Department of Education has announced the 2022 semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Awards, which includes students who have demonstrated excellence in CTE.

• FCC Opens Third Emergency Connectivity Fund Window: Schools and libraries can submit requests for funding to improve internet access, purchase equipment and obtain up to 12 months of recurring services between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023.

Fiscal Year 2022 Perkins Funding: State-by-State Numbers

In March, President Biden signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 into law, setting federal spending for education for the 2022-23 school year. Overall, Perkins Basic State Grant funding received a $45 million increase, putting total funding at $1.38 billion. The Department of Education recently released the allocations that will be dispersed to each state through the Perkins Basic State Grant formula on July 1 and October 1 of this year.  

While all states are receiving more funding in FY 2022, some states receive slightly different increases than others due to changes in state population and poverty levels that occur from year to year. Per-state Perkins funding increased between 2.74% and 4.1%, with five states (Alaska, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, South Dakota) and the District of Columbia receiving more than 4% to help bring them to the mandatory minimum funding level for small states set by Perkins V. In terms of net funding dollars, the largest states predictably saw the biggest increases. Texas will receive nearly $4.5 million more in FY 2022 than it did in FY 2023, with California, Florida, and New York trailing behind. The 11 states and the District of Columbia with the smallest net increase (all received $221,332) are lower-population states that receive less overall resources.  

To see the state-by-state breakdown of funding increases between FY 2021 and FY 2022, click here.