National Education Policy and
Activity Update
Janet Bray
Executive Director
Association for Career and Technical Education
Association for Career and Technical Education
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National Challenges
• Concern about U.S. student performance, and
particularly performance of minorities and
disenfranchised populations
- high dropout rates;
-Insufficient communications, math and science skills;
-high postsecondary remediation rates; and
-large achievement gaps.
• United States global competition
• Improved transitions between secondary and
postsecondary education
• 21st Century Skills
Association for Career and Technical Education
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Political Environment
 Economy taking center stage in every discussion
 Calls for bi-partisanship, but in many ways more
partisan than ever
 Very ambitious agenda ahead
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Housing crisis
Credit market issues
Healthcare
Energy
Immigration
Association for Career and Technical Education
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President Obama Priorities
 Big focus on pre-school students (0-5)
– Expanding Head Start and child care
 Recruit, prepare, retain and reward teachers
 Expand college access
– $4,000 tax credit in exchange for service
– Simplify financial aid process
 Reform NCLB
 Increase charter schools
 Address dropout issue
Association for Career and Technical Education
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President’s Challenge
“Tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least
one year or more of higher education or career
training. This can be community college or a four-year
school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But
whatever the training may be, every American will need
to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping
out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just
quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country – and
this country needs and values the talents of every
American.”
February 24, 2009
Association for Career and Technical Education
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Congressional Balance of Power
Senate:
 58 Democrats
 40 Republicans
 2 Independents
House:
 256 Democrats
 178 Republicans
 1 Vacant Seat
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American Reinvestment
and Recovery Act
 $787.2 billion enacted 2/17/09
 Approximately 35% tax cuts and 65% spending
 74.2% of spending and tax breaks would go out by
the end of FY 2010
 Will create/save 3-4 million jobs
 Major focuses on energy, science and technology,
infrastructure, healthcare, and education
Association for Career and Technical Education
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ARRA Education
Implementation Principles
 Spend funds quickly to save and create jobs
 Improve student achievement through school
improvement and reform
 Ensure transparency and accountability and
report publicly on the use of funds
 Invest one-time ARRA funds thoughtfully to
minimize the “funding cliff”
Association for Career and Technical Education
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ED Four Priorities
 Adopting internationally benchmarked standards
and assessments that prepare students for success
in college and the workplace
 Recruiting, developing, rewarding and retaining
effective teachers and principals
 Building data systems that measure student
success and inform teachers and principals how
they can improve their practices
 Turning around the lowest-performing schools
Association for Career and Technical Education
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ED Race to the Top timeline
 July 24 – announcement made
 Aug 28 – comments due in response to draft
criteria
(CTE and NASDCTEc submitted joint comments)
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Fall 2009 – applications accepted
Early 2010 – 1st round awards
June 2010 – 2nd round of applications due
Sept 2010 – 2nd round of awards made
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Politico Advertisement
ARRA Funding
Department of Education
Available: $67.6 billion
Paid Out: $18.38 billion
Department of Labor
Available: $31.75 billion
Paid Out: $24.67 billion
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Department of Labor
 Total funding of $3.95 billion including:
– $500 million - adult employment and training
activities
– $1.2 billion - youth activities, including summer
employment programs for youth
– $1.25 - dislocated worker employment and training
activities
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Department of Labor
– $200 million - dislocated workers assistance
national reserve
– $50 million - YouthBuild activities
– $750 million - competitive grants for worker
training and placement in high growth and
emerging industry sectors
• $500 million set aside for training in careers in energy
efficiency and renewable energy
• Priority for remaining funds is health care sector
Association for Career and Technical Education
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ARRA Initiatives
Department of Labor
 Energy Training Partnership Grants $100 million
 State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) and
Training Grants $190 million
 Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and
Emerging Industries $220 million
Department of Energy
 Workforce Training for the Electric Power Grants
$144 million
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No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
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Largest federal elementary/secondary bill
Originally due to be reauthorized in 2007
Work stalled in the 110th Congress
New regulations issued from U.S. Education
Department in late 2008
 Secretary Duncan has called for action and
Congress likely to respond
Association for Career and Technical Education
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FY 2010 President’s Budget
 Detailed Administration budget released May 7
 Perkins level-funded
 New proposed programs:
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$50 million High School Graduation Initiative
$500 million College Access & Completion Fund
$135 million Career Pathways Innovation Fund
$50 million Green Jobs Innovation Fund
$15 million Workforce Data Quality Initiative
Association for Career and Technical Education
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FY 2010 Appropriations
 Congress passed FY 2010 Budget Resolution in late
April to set overall spending parameters; provided $10
billion less than the Obama request
 House approved Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education appropriations bill July 24
 Senate Appropriations Committee approved its bill July
30; bill now must move to full Senate
 Both bills level-fund Perkins, but provide other
opportunities
 Continuing Resolution approved to fund programs
through October 30
Association for Career and Technical Education
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Energy Sustainability Priorities
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Develop and fund programs which address
need for high-wage, high demand careers
Train educators about new
sustainable/“green” technologies
Modernize and upgrade CTE facilities and
equipment
Support infusion of energy sustainability
concepts throughout curriculum
Association for Career and Technical Education
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GREEN Act
 H.R. 1775 introduced March 30
 Sponsored by Rep. Jerry McNerney
 Grants to develop CTE programs of study and
facilities in areas of renewable energy
 Two components:
– Curriculum grants to partnerships
– Facilities grants
 Curriculum portions included in broader energy
legislation passed by House
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Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
 Over 10 years since the bill was reauthorized
 Bill died in 109th Congress and little action in the
110th Congress
 Senate held listening sessions in late 2008 and
spring 2009
 House held hearings this year
 Momentum has stalled (at least for the time being)
Association for Career and Technical Education
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Student Aid and
Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA)
 Supports community colleges, technical colleges and
CTE via American Graduation Initiative
 Funds secondary and postsecondary educational
facilities
 Changes federal student loans to Direct Loan program
in 2010 to pay for new programs
 House passed H.R.3221 on 09/17/09 on a 253-171 vote
 Senate bill could arrive could arrive in Committee
early October
Association for Career and Technical Education
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Action Needed
 Link CTE to critical issues:
– Dropout prevention and school improvement
– Economic recovery
– Postsecondary access and completion
 Highlight data and stories that exemplify CTE
relevancy
 Use ACTE Issue Briefs & research
 Stay informed, build relationships and be ready to
act!
Association for Career and Technical Education
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Association for Career and Technical Education
1410 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(800) 826-9972
Web: www.acteonline.org
jbray@acteonline.org
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