A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Kimberly A. Green, NASDCTEc 

Outline Policy influencers Budget realities Current initiatives Perkins Next Steps

Policy Influencers

Policy influencers Focus on jobs Global competition Evidence of success Common core state standards – College and career readiness – Assessment Increased visibility for CTE

Budget Realities

FY12 Funding In FY 11, President recommended $264 million cut to Perkins, Congress accepted $141 million cut FY12, Perkins was essentially flat funded at FY11 levels

FY13 President’s Budget Proposal –Flat funding for Perkins –$1 billion over 3 years for career academies –$8 billion over 3 years for community colleges Congress –House and Senate – Continuing resolution with flat funding –No new funding

FY13 Deficit Reduction Committee –Charged with cutting $1.2 trillion in spending Sequestration? –Automatic spending caps from 2014 to 2021 –Estimates of 8.2% across-the-board cuts

Career Academy Proposal New funding $1 billion over 3 years State to local by competition Clear definition of an academy –4 years –Requires work-based learning –Academic, technical and employability skills

Current Initiatives

Administration Views “While we know that high-quality career and technical education strategies have the potential to prepare students for jobs in the knowledge economy, many career and technical programs haven’t lived up to their promise of preparing students for careers and college.”

Administration Views “The Obama administration says that overall, data about career and technical education is mixed. There are “islands of excellence,” said Brenda Dann-Messier, assistant secretary for vocational and adult education, but there is still “uneven quality around the country.” NY Times Article, July 9, 2011 by Motoko Rich

Career Readines Partner Council 30+ national education, workforce organization, businesses and foundations working together toward a common, comprehensive definition of what is career readiness. Definition to be revealed on October 18.

What is the Common Career Technical Core initiative? State-led initiative to establish a shared set of high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) standards Includes a set of standards for each of the 16 Career Clusters TM, as well as an overarching set of Career Ready Practices

Perkins

Trends in federal policy Competition Innovation Consolidation Cost-benefit analysis Connection to the economy Change through policy –ESEA waivers –Race to the Top Criteria

Perkins Blueprint Nine Reforms ThemeReforms AlignmentClear expectations for high quality programs More active role for states CollaborationConsortia Private-sector match AccountabilityCompetition Common definitions Incentives for high performance InnovationState conditions Innovative and Transformation Fund

Reactions to the Blueprint Make sure your voice is heard!

Next Steps

What’s Next? Federal budget Elections

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LEADING CHANGE TRANSFORMING EXPECTATIONS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

Kimberly Green