Last week, the House Career Technical Education (CTE) Caucus co-chairs began circulating a letter urging Congress to strengthen the federal investment in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). Elsewhere, the ongoing budget reconciliation process continues to take shape as the U.S. Department of Education (ED) paused a competitive grant program for tribal CTE.
House CTE Champions Circulate Perkins Funding Letter
Last week, House Career Technical Education (CTE) caucus co-chairs Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) circulated a Dear Colleague Letter calling for an increase in the federal investment in CTE as part of the wider 2026 federal fiscal year (FY26) appropriations process. The letter urges other colleagues in the House of Representatives to sign on to support increasing funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) as this process continues to get underway this year. Advance CTE encourages all members to contact their Representatives to support this effort. To do so:
The letter emphasizes the importance of the federal investment made in CTE by Perkins V and its significance in supporting state and local education agencies to improve learners’ opportunities to gain skills for in-demand careers. Advance CTE will continue to advocate for federal investments in support of CTE as part of the broader FY26 process set to begin later this year.
Native American Career and Technical Education Program Grant Notice
In recent weeks, the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) paused the application process for FY25 Native American Career and Technical Education Program (NACTEP) competitive grants. ED has indicated plans to issue a revised notice inviting applications that align with the Trump Administration’s priorities for the next grant cycle. Read more about NACTEP grants here.
