Association for Career and Technical Education 1 Janet Bray Executive Director Association for Career and Technical Education National Education Policy and Activity Update National Education Policy and Activity Update

Association for Career and Technical Education 2 National Challenges Concern about U.S. student performance, and particularly performance of minorities and disenfranchised populations - high dropout rates; -Insufficient communications, math and science skills; -high postsecondary remediation rates; and -large achievement gaps. United States global competition Improved transitions between secondary and postsecondary education 21 st Century Skills

Association for Career and Technical Education 3 Political Environment  Economy taking center stage in every discussion  Calls for bi-partisanship, but in many ways more partisan than ever  Very ambitious agenda ahead –Housing crisis –Credit market issues –Healthcare –Energy –Immigration

Association for Career and Technical Education 4 President Obama Priorities  Big focus on pre-school students (0-5) –Expanding Head Start and child care  Recruit, prepare, retain and reward teachers  Expand college access –$4,000 tax credit in exchange for service –Simplify financial aid process  Reform NCLB  Increase charter schools  Address dropout issue

Association for Career and Technical Education 5 President’s Challenge “Tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country – and this country needs and values the talents of every American.” February 24, 2009

Association for Career and Technical Education 6 Congressional Balance of Power Senate:  58 Democrats  40 Republicans  2 Independents House:  256 Democrats  178 Republicans  1 Vacant Seat

Association for Career and Technical Education 7 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act  $787.2 billion enacted 2/17/09  Approximately 35% tax cuts and 65% spending  74.2% of spending and tax breaks would go out by the end of FY 2010  Will create/save 3-4 million jobs  Major focuses on energy, science and technology, infrastructure, healthcare, and education

Association for Career and Technical Education 8 ARRA Education Implementation Principles  Spend funds quickly to save and create jobs  Improve student achievement through school improvement and reform  Ensure transparency and accountability and report publicly on the use of funds  Invest one-time ARRA funds thoughtfully to minimize the “funding cliff”

Association for Career and Technical Education 9 ED Four Priorities  Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace  Recruiting, developing, rewarding and retaining effective teachers and principals  Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices  Turning around the lowest-performing schools

Association for Career and Technical Education 10 ED Race to the Top timeline  July 24 – announcement made  Aug 28 – comments due in response to draft criteria (CTE and NASDCTEc submitted joint comments)  Fall 2009 – applications accepted  Early 2010 – 1 st round awards  June 2010 – 2 nd round of applications due  Sept 2010 – 2 nd round of awards made

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Association for Career and Technical Education 12 ARRA Funding Department of Education Available:$67.6 billion Paid Out:$18.38 billion Department of Labor Available:$31.75 billion Paid Out:$24.67 billion

Association for Career and Technical Education 13 Department of Labor  Total funding of $3.95 billion including: –$500 million - adult employment and training activities –$1.2 billion - youth activities, including summer employment programs for youth –$ dislocated worker employment and training activities

Association for Career and Technical Education 14 Department of Labor –$200 million - dislocated workers assistance national reserve –$50 million - YouthBuild activities –$750 million - competitive grants for worker training and placement in high growth and emerging industry sectors $500 million set aside for training in careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy Priority for remaining funds is health care sector

Association for Career and Technical Education 15 ARRA Initiatives Department of Labor  Energy Training Partnership Grants $100 million  State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) and Training Grants $190 million  Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries $220 million Department of Energy  Workforce Training for the Electric Power Grants $144 million

Association for Career and Technical Education 16 No Child Left Behind (NCLB)  Largest federal elementary/secondary bill  Originally due to be reauthorized in 2007  Work stalled in the 110 th Congress  New regulations issued from U.S. Education Department in late 2008  Secretary Duncan has called for action and Congress likely to respond

Association for Career and Technical Education 17 FY 2010 President’s Budget  Detailed Administration budget released May 7  Perkins level-funded  New proposed programs: –$50 million High School Graduation Initiative –$500 million College Access & Completion Fund –$135 million Career Pathways Innovation Fund –$50 million Green Jobs Innovation Fund –$15 million Workforce Data Quality Initiative

Association for Career and Technical Education 18 FY 2010 Appropriations  Congress passed FY 2010 Budget Resolution in late April to set overall spending parameters; provided $10 billion less than the Obama request  House approved Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill July 24  Senate Appropriations Committee approved its bill July 30; bill now must move to full Senate  Both bills level-fund Perkins, but provide other opportunities  Continuing Resolution approved to fund programs through October 30

Association for Career and Technical Education 19 Energy Sustainability Priorities  Develop and fund programs which address need for high-wage, high demand careers  Train educators about new sustainable/“green” technologies  Modernize and upgrade CTE facilities and equipment  Support infusion of energy sustainability concepts throughout curriculum

Association for Career and Technical Education 20 GREEN Act  H.R introduced March 30  Sponsored by Rep. Jerry McNerney  Grants to develop CTE programs of study and facilities in areas of renewable energy  Two components: –Curriculum grants to partnerships –Facilities grants  Curriculum portions included in broader energy legislation passed by House

Association for Career and Technical Education 21 Workforce Investment Act (WIA)  Over 10 years since the bill was reauthorized  Bill died in 109 th Congress and little action in the 110 th Congress  Senate held listening sessions in late 2008 and spring 2009  House held hearings this year  Momentum has stalled (at least for the time being)

Association for Career and Technical Education 22 Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA)  Supports community colleges, technical colleges and CTE via American Graduation Initiative  Funds secondary and postsecondary educational facilities  Changes federal student loans to Direct Loan program in 2010 to pay for new programs  House passed H.R.3221 on 09/17/09 on a vote  Senate bill could arrive could arrive in Committee early October

Association for Career and Technical Education 23 Action Needed  Link CTE to critical issues: –Dropout prevention and school improvement –Economic recovery –Postsecondary access and completion  Highlight data and stories that exemplify CTE relevancy  Use ACTE Issue Briefs & research  Stay informed, build relationships and be ready to act!

Association for Career and Technical Education 24 Association for Career and Technical Education 1410 King Street Alexandria, VA (800) Web: