ACTE

The 2009 National Policy Seminar was a tremendous opportunity for career and technical educators to bring their voices and stories to Washington, D.C. to inform policymakers about the importance of CTE. With a new Administration and many new Members of Congress, this year's meeting provided unique opportunities for education and advocacy. If you attended the meeting, please take just a few moments to complete the electronic evaluation form so we can continue to provide high-quality policy experiences in future years. Also, don't forget to complete a Hill Visit Report Form to let us know about your visits with policymakers! You can also share your experiences with your local media by customizing our sample press release.

You can also share your thoughts about the meeting on the NPS online discussion forum, part of ACTE's new online forums. In addition, you can read what student-attendees thought about the NPS, and keep up with ACTE's advocacy work and CTE policy and legislation by reading the CTE Policy Watch blog.

2009 Capitol Hill Visit Leave Behinds
ACTE Priorities for the 111th Congress
Fiscal Year 2010 Perkins Funding Request
CTE's Role in Energy and Environmental Sustainability Issue Sheet
CTE's Role in Dropout Prevention Issue Sheet

2009 National Policy Seminar PowerPoint Presentations
Capitol Hill 101
ACTE Issues Briefing
Effective CTE Messaging in the New Political Environment - Jim Harff
Effective CTE Messaging in the New Political Environment - Kenny Ames
Effective CTE Messaging in the New Political Environment - Jennifer McNelly

Duncan: Great Opportunity for True Education Reform

The United States has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve how we educate students given a new political climate and bipartisan support to improve student outcomes, said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Duncan, who was the keynote speaker at NPS on March 11, noted that innovative best practices are being employed in many areas to improve student performance; the challenge is to widely replicate them so they can benefit a larger number of students, many of whom face challenges, but can do better with the right approach.

"We have a moral responsibility," he told attendees, "not to keep the status quo."

Duncan said every student should graduate from high school both college and work ready, but the one-size-fits-all approach to education won’t work for every child. He said some students may take longer to graduate from high school than others and some may earn college credit while still in high school. By providing students with various learning opportunities, we can increase the likelihood of student success. Duncan said that CTE is "a huge part" of the solution to improve student outcomes so that they are prepared for life after high school.

Duncan said the $100 billion included in the stimulus package for education is testimony to President Obama’s commitment to ensuring that all students reach their full potential. The areas the Administration will work to improve include early childhood education, curbing high school dropout, improving college graduation rates and raising academic standards. Duncan said that work needs to be done at the secondary level to address the dropout rate (estimated to be approximately 30 percent). There are few good jobs for those with just a high school diploma, he said, and fewer for dropouts, so it is imperative that we educate our youth so that they can find jobs to support their lives.

The Administration also wants to improve secondary school standards. Duncan noted that, in some places, standards are so low that students are not being adequately prepared for work or postsecondary education. He added that America’s future depends on its ability to educate young people because other countries, such as China and India, are doing just that and their students are outperforming ours.

Comprehensive reform that replicates best practices, includes longer school hours and summer programs that provide students with academic and enrichment programs and encourages parents to become engaged in their students’ learning is key to ensure that students reach their full potential, he said.

Reps. McNerny and Baird speak to attendees of a Capitol Hill reception during NPS.