This week, the co-chairs of the House Career Technical Education (CTE) Caucus began circulating a letter urging Congress to strengthen the federal investment in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). Elsewhere, Congressional Republicans successfully passed a new budget resolution that sets the stage for a budget reconciliation package that aligns with President Trump’s legislative agenda. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) published new Perkins V reporting guidance. Congressional Democrats also sent a letter to the ED Secretary in response to emergency fund reimbursement opportunity closures.
House CTE Champions Circulate Perkins Funding Letter
This week, House Career Technical Education (CTE) caucus co-chairs, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), began circulating a ‘Dear Colleague Letter’ that requests increased funding for CTE through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). This support for CTE funding is timely as Congressional appropriations leaders look to begin fiscal year 2026 (FY26) appropriations process in earnest in the next few months.
These leaders are currently circulating this letter to all House members, encouraging them to sign on in support of this request to strengthen the primary federal investment made in CTE. The letter also details the impact of CTE programs have on learner achievement and subsequent outcomes and highlights its critical importance to the nation’s future economic competitiveness.
The letter is open to all Congressional offices through April 24, 2025. Advance CTE encourages all members to reach out to their House Representatives to support this effort. To do so, click here.
Advance CTE looks forward to advocating for federal investments in support of CTE as part of the wider FY26 process set to begin later this year.
New Information Collection Requests Restore Perkins State Plan and Consolidated Annual Report Requirements
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued new information collection requests (ICRs) pertaining to the Perkins V State Plan Guide and Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) Guide. The issued ICRs propose to reinstate the previous versions of these ICRs after significant advocacy on this topic by Advance CTE and partners.
Advance CTE applauds this latest move from ED, which recognizes the importance of consistency regarding the implementation of Perkins V. We will continue to provide additional information and updates regarding these efforts as they become available.
Budget Blueprint Approved by Congress Setting Stage for Reconciliation
This week, the House of Representatives approved the newly updated budget resolution that passed the Senate last week. The passage of the same budget resolution in both chambers of Congress is the first step in the wider budget reconciliation process expected to be the focus of Congress in the coming months. In passing this budget framework, congressional Republicans have taken a critical step towards enacting President Trump’s legislative agenda, which will likely include significant tax cuts, spending reductions, and increased spending on border security, immigration, and domestic energy production.
The next phase of budget reconciliation will require lawmakers to determine the exact contents of this forthcoming legislative package– a process that will continue to play out over the next few weeks and months. As previously reported, each chamber of Congress has differing instructions related to the amount of federal cuts needed to offset the wider costs of the proposal – an issue that Congressional Republicans will need to resolve in the future as the package is further developed.
The House and Senate are out of session and will reconvene on Monday, April 28th, following an annual recess period which began late this week.
Labor Secretary Begins Listening Tour
This Monday, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-Deremer started a nationwide ‘American At Work’ listening tour, aimed to participate in a series of conversations about strengthening pathways to sustainable jobs, identifying ways to improve workforce development, and promote education that meets modern workforce needs. Sec. Chavez-Deremer’s first stop was in Pennsylvania with a robust conversation with local leaders about supporting apprenticeships to develop a skilled workforce, improving infrastructure, and other ways to enhance America’s workforce through strengthened pathways. Read more about the listening tour here.
ED Extends Title VI Compliance
As shared last week, ED sent a letter to states requesting that they re-certify their compliance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act or lose access to federal funding. The letter initially provided states with 10 days to complete this request. ED has most recently extended this deadline through April 24, 2025. Advance CTE continues to monitor these new requirements closely and will continue to share back relevant information with the CTE community.
Congressional Democrats Send Letters to ED Regarding ESSER Cut-Off
Following the letter from ED Secretary Linda McMahon last week regarding the end of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) reimbursement extension, Democratic appropriations leaders from the House and Senate responded with a letter expressing concerns about the abrupt policy change. As previously reported, the funding extensions were set to expire on March 30, 2026, before ED eliminated them last Friday.
