Happy Teacher Appreciation and National Nurses Week!
TWEET OF THE WEEK
A Weston student testified in support of a bill that would increase funding for youth apprenticeships. https://t.co/aGsmOrx5dD #CTEWorks @CTEWorks @WiscoSkillsUSA @WIFBLA
— Wisconsin CTE (@WisconsinCTE) May 9, 2019
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK
House Appropriations Committee Marks Up Spending Bill for Education, Labor Programs
On Wednesday, May 8, the House Committee on Appropriations marked up the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-Education) appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), which begins October 1, 2019. The bill moved ahead on a 30-23 party line vote.
The Committee accepted an amendment by Chairwoman of the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. DeLauro (D-CT). The amendment adds $103 million to the overall spending amount for the bill. Advance CTE was pleased to see that this allowed for an additional $10 million to be allocated to CTE State Grants, also known as Perkins Basic State Grants- leading to a total increase of $47 million over the amount provided by Congress for FY19.
It is important to note that this markup is an early step in the process to determine the amount of funding Congress will allocate to the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor for FY20. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet released their FY20 funding bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. In addition, Congress must agree on the overall levels of spending for defense and non-defense discretionary spending before determining final allocations for the FY20 appropriations bills and associated programs. Advance CTE will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available.
To make sure you get the latest news and resources about federal policy that affects CTE, sign up for our Legislative Updates!
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
The healthcare industry is one of the tops fields with the hardest-to-fill jobs! As we celebrate nurses week, consider the importance of high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) programs focused on the healthcare field that are providing opportunities for learners to gain real-world skills while in high school. This foundation is helpful for learners desiring to further their education after high school or to go directly into the workforce.
Watch this video from the Idaho Career & Technical Education featuring Brian Whitlock, CEO/President of Idaho Hospital Association, and Brittney Guinn, a nursing student at Idaho State University as they discuss the labor market demand for nurses and healthcare professionals in Idaho. Expanding these programs that create opportunities for learners to gain the technical skills needed in this industry can help fill the current gap.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/LRbecQECX-0
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
As the conversation about jobs of the future continues to gain media attention it’s a good time to discuss career exploration with younger learners. The earlier they begin to explore and learn about these career options the more likely they will be able to make informed decisions about a meaningful career in the future. A good place to start is with the new Scholastic lessons and interactive activities geared toward helping middle school learners build awareness about careers and apprenticeships. The resources provided can be used by educators or parents.
Download the materials here.
