Career and Technical Education Leaders Respond to President's Proposed FY 2013 Budget

ACTE and NASDCTEc applaud investments in career and technical education

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) are pleased with the Administration's focus on career and technical education (CTE) throughout its FY 2013 budget proposal.

The proposed $1.1 billion level funding of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins Act) is a solid beginning to this year's appropriations process, and will hopefully jump start efforts to restore recent funding cuts to the program and ensure all students have access to high-quality CTE programs that prepare them for successful careers. The Perkins Act is the primary source of federal formula funding for CTE, delivered at both the secondary and postsecondary level, and a critical source of support for most school districts.

"Today, the President called for an education system that prepares students with the skills they need to fill today's and tomorrow's high-demand, highly-skilled jobs in areas such as health care and technology. Career and technical education is the solution to equipping individuals with those skills and federal funding is important to support colleges and high schools across the country to provide the training and skills needed for success in our economy," said Jan Bray, Executive Director of ACTE.

ACTE and NASDCTEc commend the President for proposing $1 billion in new funding over the course of 3 years for creation and expansion of career academies, a highly successful CTE model currently implemented in several states, and investments in community colleges. The career academies initiative would be funded through the American Jobs Act and would require the approval of Congress in order to become a reality.

"President Obama's FY13 budget indicates that the Administration recognizes the value of Career Technical Education in creating a pipeline for students from high school to college, and through to their careers," said Kimberly Green, NASDCTEc Executive Director.

"Given the current economic environment that our nation is enduring, we are encouraged that the budget includes level funding for Perkins at $1.1 billion, which would support CTE programs that prepare students across the nation to be college and career ready, and succeed in the global economy. Further, the proposed new funding for career academies, career pathways programs and college completion initiatives, underscores the Administration's emphasis on programs that aim to meet our nation's education and workforce goals."

A new $8 billion initiative, also part of the American Jobs Act proposal, will go to the Departments of Education and Labor to support state and community college partnerships with businesses to build the skills of American workers over the course of 3 years. ACTE and NASDCTEc support such partnerships, which will target and address the skills gap referenced today by the president in his speech on the budget.

While more details are needed to determine the implications of these proposals, ACTE and NASDCTEc are optimistic about the Administration's renewed focus on career and technical education. Both organizations look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to increase funding for CTE, a valuable education option for many student and adults.

ABOUT ACTE
The Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation's largest not-for-profit education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. It provides advocacy, public awareness and access to information, professional development and tools that enable members to be successful and effective leaders. Founded in 1926, ACTE has more than 27,000 members including teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.

ABOUT NASDCTEc
The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) was established in 1920 to represent the state and territory heads of secondary, postsecondary and adult career technical education (CTE) across the nation. NASDCTEc, through leadership, advocacy and partnerships, aims to support an innovative CTE system that prepares individuals to succeed in education and their careers, and poises the United States to flourish a global, dynamic economy.  

SOURCE Association for Career and Technical Education