SILVER SPRING, MD (October 28, 2021) – Alexandria, VA – Today, President Joe Biden and congressional leaders announced a tentative framework for the Build Back Better Act, including millions in new funding for career and technical education (CTE) programs through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V), and significant investments in other critical education, workforce and connectivity programs. The following statement can be attributed to LeAnn Wilson, Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and Kimberly Green, Executive Director of Advance CTE:
Perkins V received a $700 million investment in the Build Back Better Act compromise legislative text released today, divided between $600 million for the Basic State Grant program and $100 million for the Innovation and Modernization fund. This is a strong investment that will support students across the country in pursuing high-wage, in-demand careers through high-quality CTE programs, and we commend the President and leaders in Congress for providing these funds.
However, the draft text makes significant cuts to education and workforce development from the House’s earlier version of the legislation, which proposed $4 billion in new funding for Perkins V, and approximately $80 billion overall for workforce development. This proposed $4 billion investment for CTE would have ensured that the American workforce is fully prepared for the highly-skilled jobs that President Biden hopes to create and fill through his wider domestic legislative agenda. We were also disappointed to note the exclusion of Community College and Industry Partnership grant funding which would have provided much-needed resources to postsecondary institutions to meaningfully engage with the private sector and provide clearer pathways for learners to enter the workforce.
ACTE and Advance CTE look forward to working with the Biden Administration and Congress to fully leverage this investment in CTE programs and career pathways as high-quality, equitable avenues for each learner to achieve success in the jobs of the future. We will continue to advocate for robust funding levels for CTE, including in the ongoing Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations process and future legislation, that are more reflective of the needs of the CTE community and ensure support for our nation’s workforce to obtain and advance in high-skill, high-wage and in-demand careers.
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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. Advance CTE’s mission is to support state CTE leadership to advance high-quality and equitable CTE policies, programs and pathways that ensure career and college success for each learner.
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.
Media Contacts:
Stacy Whitehouse, Advance CTE swhitehouse@careertech.org
Jori Houck, ACTE jhouck@acteonline.org
