This week, the House introduced a resolution for CTE Month. Read below to learn more about the resolution, a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal, a stackable credential opportunity and new efforts to modernize federal student aid.
House Introduces Bipartisan Resolution for CTE Month 
On Wednesday, Representatives Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) introduced a resolution (H.Res.854) recognizing February as National CTE Month. Congressmen Langevin and Thompson are co-chairs of the Congressional Career Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, and have long supported high-quality CTE policies. The resolution also recognizes 100 years of state leadership in CTE, as Advance CTE celebrates its centenary. 
You can read the full press release, including a quote from Advance CTE’s Executive Director Kimberly Green, here. 
Secretary DeVos Testifies to Congress on Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Proposal
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos testified before the House Committee on Appropriations’s Subcomittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies about the administration’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal. The hearing showed bipartisan support for an increase in federal funding for CTE. Secretary DeVos spoke of the need for the $900 million increase in CTE funding that the administration requested. Subcommittee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) both discussed the importance of CTE in their respective opening remarks.
The Secretary also voiced support for the Second Chance Pell Program. Many members asked questions about the functionality of the proposed consolidation of 29 programs under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into one block grant. In addition, concern was shared by members about the elimination of the GEAR UP program, with Secretary DeVos responding that the intention is the program would ultimately be part of the Federal TRIO Program.  
Secretary DeVos’s testimony can be viewed here, and a video of the full hearing can be viewed here. 
U.S. Department of Education Launches Pathways to Credentials Project
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) announced the technical assistance phase of its Pathways to Credentials project. The purpose of the initiative is to support community and technical colleges in including stackable industry recognized credentials within degree programs. Up to ten community and technical colleges will be selected from the pool of applicants to receive technical assistance in developing and implementing stackable credential opportunities. A webinar will be held on March 5, 2020 that will provide additional information, and applications are due on April 2, 2020.
Secretary DeVos Announces Updates to Federal Student Aid Customer Experience
Earlier this week, Secretary DeVos announced substantial updates to StudentAid.gov that provides students and their families with new tools and information to help guide them in choosing from student loan and aid programs. Specifically, some of these new features simplify the display for total aid options, including grants and loans. It also provides a loan simulator tool to help ‘test-drive’ what repayment plan would work best for them. Finally, a pilot program was included to simplify student loan payments by having a centralized location where payments could be made. Currently, payments must be made to each loan servicer – but the hope is that having a centralized location for payment will simplify the experience for those with loans.
This rollout is part of the Education Department’s Next Gen Federal Student Aid initiative, which is tasked with substantially changing and simplifying the federal student aid program.
Meredith Hills, Policy Associate and Samuel Dunietz, Senior Associate for Federal Policy