ACTE

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) last week held its Annual Convention and Career Tech Expo and announced today that 5,200 educators and exhibitors attended the event in Nashville, Tennessee, November 19-21, roughly a 20 percent increase over last year’s event. During the three-day Convention, ACTE released an adolescent-literacy Issue Brief, signed an MOU with the U.S. Army Accessions Command, announced the 2010 CTE MonthPublic Service Announcement (PSA) video and national award winners, and held more than 250 concurrent sessions and workshops that covered topics like data collection, career academies, incorporating technology into the curriculum, and legislative and policy issues affecting CTE.

NASHVILLE, TN—Representatives from the U.S. Army Accessions Command (USAAC) and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) this week signed an official memorandum of understanding (MOU) providing the cooperative framework to increase collaboration in supporting the nation’s young people and improving the educational experiences, postsecondary readiness and career and technical pathways for the nation’s high school students.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced today that students from Silsbee Independent School District (ISD) in Silsbee, Texas, won the 29-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest sponsored by ACTE. The students, Katie Eldredge and Hannah Read, developed a PSA called “The Future Is in Your Hands,” which will be used to market CTE Month during February 2010. ACTE unveiled the video during its opening General Session at ACTE’s Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A new Issue Brief by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), "Career and Technical Education’s Role in Adolescent Literacy," explains how career and technical education (CTE) can increase adolescent literacy engagement and achievement. CTE teachers are integrating content-area reading and writing strategies and a number of enrichment activities to help students gain and apply higher-level literacy skills, which will help students prepare to enter postsecondary education, training opportunities and the global economy.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces it has signed on to become an endorsing partner of the Data Quality Campaign (DQC), which is a national, collaborative effort to encourage and support state policymakers to improve the availability and use of high-quality education data to improve student achievement. ACTE will work with the DQC to support the use of longitudinal data to inform policy and practice and to improve student achievement.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) praises the Senate for confirming Brenda Dann-Messier as the assistant secretary of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education. Dann-Messier was nominated by President Obama in July.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education applauds President Obama’s new American Graduation Initiative announced today, which will help create innovative programs, renovate and rebuild schools, and create a virtual infrastructure of online courses. The Obama plan recognizes the important role that these institutions provide to educate and train students and adults for the high-demand jobs needed to keep the United States economically competitive.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A new Issue Brief by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) titled “Career and Technical Education’s Role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math” describes how career and technical education (CTE) can help meet the critical need of developing a skilled, professional STEM workforce to secure America’s economic future. CTE courses and programs strengthen students’ understanding of STEM content and attract students to STEM careers.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) has added an interview with National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) CEO Byron V. Garrett to its Career Tech Talk podcast series, which features interviews with leaders and innovators in career and technical education (CTE). Garrett discusses PTA policy issues, the critical need for student involvement and the role of CTE in reducing the dropout rate and engaging students in education.

Alexandria, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced today that its 2008-2009 Outstanding Teacher in Community Service, Carol Dvorak, won one of five grand prize spots in HBO’s “Who’s Your No. 1 Lady?” contest.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is hosting its annual 29-second Video Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest to publicize CTE Month during February 2010. Secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) students in film and video production classes and other CTE courses are invited to submit video PSAs incorporating the 2010 CTE Month logo and theme, “CTE: Invest in Your Future.” Students can enter the contest as individuals or as a group. Deadline to enter is October 16, 2009.

Alexandria, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces that Grant Robertson of Houston, Texas has won the 2010 CTE Month Logo Design Contest. Robertson will receive a check for $250 and the logo will be used to promote the 2010 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month theme CTE: Invest in Your Future. ACTE received 280 entries for this year’s contest.

Increase Needed to Train Workforce, Stimulate Economy

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the White House unveiled its Fiscal Year 2010 budget request, proposing level funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins Act) at $1.3 billion. The Perkins Act is the primary source of federal funding supporting local education programs that connect education and real-world careers. The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) appreciate the level funding proposal, but a stronger investment is needed to meet the growing needs of the students, the economy and the workforce. In order to build a pipeline of skilled workers and address critical education challenges, such as reducing the dropout rate, funding for the Perkins Act needs to be at least $1.4 billion for FY 2010 to support secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc), the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) and the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) announce the 2009 winner of the “Programs and Practices That Work: Preparing Students for Nontraditional Careers” award. The “GirlTech” program at Francis Tuttle Career Technology Center program, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, encourages female high school students to enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—In light of the current economic crisis and workforce issues facing America today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) and American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) sent a joint letter to President Obama requesting that his Fiscal Year 2010 Budget include at least $1.4 billion to support secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins).

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces the 2010 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month theme—CTE: Invest in Your Future. ACTE is hosting its annual CTE Month Logo Design Contest and is looking for logo submissions that illustrate the importance of CTE in providing the skills necessary for students to be competitive in the workforce. The contest is open to all CTE students. The designer of the winning CTE Month logo will receive a check for $250.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) today announced the results of elections for the organization’s new Board of Directors who will take office on July 1, 2009. The new Board was elected by members of the Association during its annual election.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – A new Issue Brief by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), entitled “The Role of Career Academies in Education Improvement,” describes the important role career academies have in reducing the dropout rate and preparing students for today’s workforce. A critical factor contributing to low student achievement is the lack of education relevancy. Career academies provide students with applied learning and engage them in college preparatory curricula that integrate rigorous academic and career and technical education (CTE) courses.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) today announced Senator Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) as the 2009 Policymaker of the Year. This award is presented annually by the ACTE Board of Directors to nationally recognized policymakers who have made a significant impact on policy related to career and technical education (CTE) during the past year or extended career of public service.

ALEXANDRIA, VA - The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) today announced that Cindy Bai of Plano, Texas won the secondary category and Aaron Locker of Casper, Wyoming won the postsecondary category in the 2009 Cliff Weiss Essay Contest. The winners wrote essays on the topic, “What would you tell President Obama about your CTE experience?” ACTE received 158 entries. Each of the winners will receive an award of $250 and the essays will be published in the May issue of Techniques.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – As states increase the number of academic credits required for high school graduation, they are developing new ways of integrating academic content with content from CTE courses to help students meet these requirements. One trend emerging is the state and local support for the recognition of academic credit for career and technical education (CTE) courses. A new paper released by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), entitled “Joining Forces for Student Success: The Emergence of State and Local Policies to Support the Recognition of Academic Credit for CTE Coursework,” highlights findings from a state survey, describes innovative ways states and localities are employing this strategy and offers recommendations on how to effectively implement and systemize course development.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) has added an interview with Mike Rowe, host of the Discovery Channel series “Dirty Jobs,” to its Career Tech Talk podcast series, which features interviews with leaders and innovators in CTE. Rowe discusses his project mikeroweWORKS, describes the need for skilled labor in the United States as well as this nation’s negative perception of the skilled trades, and shares what he learned about education and hard work from his family.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are working together to promote the importance of career and technical education (CTE), especially related to current economic issues. The CTSOs met this month with President Obama’s transition team to discuss the critical role CTE plays in education reform, building a qualified workforce and economic development. ACTE has also met with the President’s team to discuss CTE’s ability to leverage economic growth and recovery.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the International Center for Leadership in Education have partnered to announce the creation of the Institute for 21st Century Leadership. The Institute is based around the concept of preparing students to be “work-life-college ready” and incorporates the philosophy of rigor, relevance and relationships.

ALEXANDRIA, VA- The Association for Career and Technical Education today announced the topic for the Cliff Weiss Essay contest in the memory of former ACTE Senior Director of Communications Cliff Weiss (1951-2004). This year’s topic for secondary and postsecondary students is “What would you tell President Obama about your CTE experience?”