Federal Policy Agenda
Advance CTE's Federal Policy Agenda
Career Technical Education (CTE) is the most comprehensive and effective career preparation education experience for secondary and postsecondary learners. Robust, connective, and sustained funding and systems are central for CTE programs to be available to every learner.
Advance CTE has served as a federal policy advocate for state CTE leaders for over a century. To maximize the impact of CTE programs and systems for states, communities, and learners, Advance CTE seeks to impact federal policy across the following themes:
- Preserve and expand funding for CTE program and state system infrastructure
- Elevate and emphasize the important role of innovative state CTE leadership
- Connect CTE policies and structures to other key federal education and workforce investments
To realize this vision for federal policy, Advance CTE advocates for policies and legislation that increase access to high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) programs of study. Given federal CTE structures are housed in the U.S. Department of Education, yet connect to other education, workforce and economic development initiatives and programs, Advance CTE advocates for greater coordination among related systems and alignment between federal education and workforce development investments. These include systems and investments authorized by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Higher Education Act, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the National Apprenticeship Act, and other related federal investments in skills development.
Advance CTE engages in federal advocacy in support of this vision by:
- Monitoring federal policy and related political developments that affect CTE and advocating for policies aligned to this agenda on behalf of Advance CTE’s membership;
- Keeping the CTE community informed through communications such as our Legislative Updates; and
- Providing the tools and resources required to present a persuasive case for high-quality CTE and related policies and legislation.
Federal Policy Agenda
Advance CTE believes each learner should have access to an innovative and responsive CTE ecosystem that prepares them for success in a career of their choice and that federal policy plays a key role in building that ecosystem.
On July 31, 2018, the President signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) into law. This bill reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) and is more commonly referred to as Perkins V.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funds K-12 education throughout the nation and emphasizes access to education, high standards and accountability.
Higher Education Act (HEA) governs nearly all federal financial aid programs for the nation’s postsecondary students. The vast majority of HEA funding flows through Title IV of the legislation, which oversees the administration of the various student loan and grant programs such as the federal Pell grant.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) supports workforce development activities and funds job training programs for adults, dislocated workers and youth.
The National Apprenticeship Act authorizes the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to administer and oversee a system of registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs). This act has not been updated via the legislative process since 1937, although there have been several attempts at reauthorization. Read our Federal Apprenticeship Policy Recommendations below.
Federal Apprenticeship Policy Recommendations
As Congress considers updating the NAA to meet today’s challenges and more thoughtfully connect all forms of apprenticeship with this ecosystem, Advance CTE, representing the state leadership for secondary, postsecondary, and adult CTE in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories in consultation with a working group of these leaders, offers recommendations for future federal legislation.
