This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced the 190 participating institutions in a Federal Work-Study pilot program. Read below to learn more about what this pilot entails, a new community college and career training bill in the Senate and a site visit for CTE Month. 
U.S. Department of Education Announces Participants in Federal Work-Study Pilot
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced the 190 institutions that have been selected as part of a pilot program to support private sector employers in the Federal Work-Study program. This initiative is an experimental site, and participants will be granted waivers to use Federal Work-Study funds for work in the private sector. These experimental sites will also be able to pay low-income students for work-based learning required by academic programs- such as student teaching. Participating institutions will receive additional Job Location and Development program funds, as well as expanded allowable uses of funds.  
Senate Introduces Community College Innovation and Career Training Grants Legislation 
Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students (ACCESS) to Careers Act, that would create a community college and career training grant program. These grant programs would provide funding to states and community colleges to be responsive to evolving labor market demands. The goal of the legislation is to support learner success and career readiness through work-based learning, support services such as career counselors and career pathways that address skills demands. 
CTE Month Celebrates T.C. Williams High School 
As part of CTE Month, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) led a visit to T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia to learn about high-quality CTE programs. Attendees included representatives from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), Capitol Hill staff and organizations. The visit included a panel of learners from different CTE programs within T.C. Williams. The school offers students a variety of CTE opportunities, and during the site visit participants were able to tour the following programs: Cybersecurity; Teachers for Tomorrow; Introduction to Health and Medical Sciences; Technical Drawing and Design; Television & Media Production and Academy of Finance: Economics and Personal Finance. 
Meredith Hills, Policy Associate