Alisha Hyslop Assistant Director of Public Policy

1
Federal Career and Technical Education Policy

• Alisha HyslopAssistant Director of Public Policy

2
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

3
Authorization versus Appropriation

• Authorization The level of money allowed for a
  program (Established by authorizing committee)
• Appropriation The actual funding disbursed from
  the federal treasury (Approved by appropriations
  committee)

4
National Service

• Serve America Act signed into law
• Expands national service positions from 75,000 to
  250,000
• Enhances Learn and Serve programs for students
• Could provide resources for CTE/CTSOs

5
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

• Largest federal elementary/secondary bill
• Originally due to be reauthorized in 2007
• Work stalled in the 110th Congress
• New regulations issued from U.S. Education
  Department in late 2008
• High school reform part of the discussion
• Action very unlikely

6
NCLB

• Obama Administration
• Reform and fund the law
• Support high quality schools including charters
• Make math and science a national priority
• Address the dropout crisis
• Expand after-school opportunities
• Improve secondary-postsecondary linkages
• Provide teacher improvement and support

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NCLB-Related Bills

• Secondary School Innovation Fund (S. 968/H.R.
  2239)Support partnerships that would create
  innovative models and programs in secondary
  schools to increase student achievement and
  prepare them for postsecondary education and the
  workforce
• Fast Track to College Act (S. 627/H.R.
  1578)Create a competitive grant program to
  support early college high school partnerships
  and other types of dual enrollment programs that
  combine high school and college curriculum to
  allow students to earn credit toward a
  postsecondary degree while still in high school

8
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

• Over 10 years since the bill was reauthorized
• Bill died in 109th Congress and little action in
  the 110th Congress
• Senate held extensive listening sessions and is
  planning hearings
• House has held four hearings this year and has
  announced plans to release a bill by summer

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Workforce Investment Act

• Key Issues
• One-stop infrastructure/funding
• Training provisions
• Size/make-up of WIBs
• Youth programs
• Accountability provisions
• Coordination with education programs
• Innovation sector strategies/career pathways

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Energy Sustainability

• We will double this nation's supply of renewable
  energy in the next three years
• President Barack Obama
• February 24, 2009

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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

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GREEN Act

• H.R. 1775 introduced 3/30/09
• 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 incorporated into broader
  energy legislation

13
Presidents 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. Its not just quitting on
  yourself, its quitting on your country and
  this country needs and values the talents of
  every American. 
• February 24, 2009

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Rethinking Job Training

• Administration policy announcement on 5/8
• Will expand access to training for unemployed
• President vowed to lay out a fundamental
  rethinking of our job training, vocational
  education, and community college programs in the
  coming weeks
• Wants to move toward comprehensive policy

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Action Needed

• Link CTE to critical issues
• Dropout prevention
• 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!

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• Association for Career and Technical Education
• 1410 King Street
• Alexandria, VA 22314
• [phone]
• Web www.acteonline.org
• ahyslop_at_acteonline.org