April 1, 2020 – Silver Spring – MD—On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) released guidance on Career Technical Education (CTE)-related issues in light of the global COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The guidance included an extension for states to submit their Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) plans; clarification that states may award a Perkins V subgrant to local recipients prior to fully approved local applications; and confirmation that states may provide local Perkins V recipients additional time to complete their local applications.

 

The following statement may be jointly attributed to LeAnn Wilson, Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), and Kimberly Green, Executive Director of Advance CTE.

 

“We commend and appreciate the efforts of OCTAE Assistant Secretary Scott Stump and all who were involved in extending much-needed flexibility to states and locals for CTE. Coronavirus has raised unprecedented challenges for the CTE community just as Perkins V was being implemented, and we are grateful for the Department of Education’s hard work in helping meet the needs that have arisen as a result of the pandemic. It is critical that states and local recipients are able to take the necessary time to ensure their plans include robust goals to build quality and equity within CTE. We look forward to continuing to work with OCTAE and Congressional leadership on additional guidance and funding to cover other areas that our members, CTE professionals and programs across the country continue to grapple with.”

 

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The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

 

Advance CTE is the longest-standing national non-profit that represents State Directors and state leaders responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult Career Technical Education (CTE) across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Established in 1920, Advance CTE supports visionary state leadership, cultivates best practices and speaks with a collective voice to advance high-quality CTE policies, programs and pathways that ensure career success for each learner.

 

Press Contacts:

Jarrod Nagurka, ACTE

jnagurka@acteonline.org; (703) 689-9312

 

Katie Fitzgerald, Advance CTE

kfitzgerald@careertech.org; 301-588-9630