Building the Bridge Between Educational Organizations and Capitol Hill

For nearly a century, the Association for Career and Technical Education has provided its individual members with the tools and resources they need to be successful educators. With the establishment of the ACTE Educational Institution Membership program, institutions now have the opportunity to be actively involved with the Association and help in its mission to provide leadership in developing an educated, prepared and competitive workforce.

Becoming an ACTE member signifies a commitment to the career and technical education field as well as support of ACTE. This membership category is available for any school district, technical and career center, curriculum center, community college or university. Institutions can join at different levels and enjoy benefits that match their level of support. Join Now! 

Whom Do We Represent?

The strength of ACTE is reflected in its diverse membership, composed of nearly 29,000 career and technical educators, administrators, researchers, guidance counselors and others involved in planning and conducting career and technical education programs at the secondary, postsecondary and adult levels. ACTE is committed to enhancing the job performance and satisfaction of its members, increasing the public awareness and appreciation of career and technical education and assuring growth in funding and support for these programs by communicating and working with legislators and business leaders.

ACTE is the largest national professional education association that focused on advocating for career and technical education program funding. The Association is composed of education decision-makers or influencers who have vested interests in developing schools for the 21st century.

Why Your Institution Should Support ACTE

To be successful in today's world, American educational institutions must be up to date with information, classroom tools and equipment that help teachers provide top-of-the-line programs and resources.

ACTE works on a daily basis to ensure that CTE institutions receive the policy support and funding they need to offer high-quality programs that will help them achieve their goals. The work of an umbrella organization like ACTE helps ultimately support the educational elements, such as professional development, up-to-date equipment, cutting-edge curricula and research on best practices, that ensure Educational Institution Members are delivering high-quality education that will result in a prepared, well-educated and adaptable workforce—a workforce that will continue to enhance and increase the economic viability of our nation.

Communication With Federal Policymakers
ACTE's Public Policy Department works with Congressional leaders to secure federal funding for CTE by developing official requests, scheduling meetings and providing information to Appropriations Committee members. Despite recent threats to eliminate Perkins funding completely, ACTE's advocacy work has led the way toward a consistent federal investment.

• Staff track federal action on a wide variety of legislation impacting CTE, including the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, Workforce Investment Act, No Child Left Behind Act and Higher Education Act. ACTE solicits input from members, develops positions and shares those with policymakers through a number of avenues, including letters, phone calls, visits, Capitol Hill forums and coalition activities. 
• At each National Policy Seminar, ACTE encourages and guides its members about speaking to their representatives on Capitol Hill to express their unique needs. 

Communication With Other Leaders in Education
ACTE has relationships with the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Governors Association, Alliance for Excellence in Education, National Association for State School Boards, the Gates Foundation and others to communicate the need for CTE and successes that CTE has provided for students.

ACTE can only continue its advocacy work with the support of the entire CTE community. Educational Institution membership represents one way you can offer your support.

Benefits

All ACTE Educational Institution Members receive these benefits:

Image Enhancement
 

• Acknowledgment in ACTE publications and at the Annual Convention and Career Tech Expo.
• Permission to use the ACTE logo to display their active support of the Association's efforts.

Influence
 

• ACTE can help arrange meetings for you with the appropriate legislators and government and business leaders. 
• Networking with other other educational institutions  

Information  

• ACTE sends the Educational Institution Members a special electronic publication (quarterly Educational Institution Update) aimed at providing advanced information on upcoming activities on Capitol Hill, a recap of ACTE's speaking and partnership activities and other information that will help institutions continue to deliver great career and technical education programs.
• Representatives from ACTE Educational Institution Members also receive all of ACTE's publications, including Techniques magazine, legislative updates and Career Tech Update.

Leadership Development 

• Timely information on issues related to education, education policy, workforce development and the economy.

Who Can Join as an Educational Institution Member?
This membership category is available to career and technical centers, curriculum centers, community or technical colleges or universities.

• Community or Technical College/University
  The level is determined by the total number of instructional staff, support staff and administrators in your CTE department. 

• Technical, Career and or Curriculum Center
  The level is determined by the total number of full-time equivalent students served, both secondary and postsecondary. 

To take advantage of this unique membership opportunity, complete the application form. You can either e-mail them to dguerdat@acteonline.org or fax them to 703-683-7424.

ACTE dues are not deductible as a charitable contribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but may be deductible as a business expense.