WASHINGTON, DC (February 3, 2003) - Today, the White House unveiled its fiscal year 2004 budget proposal that includes a funding blueprint for all Federal programs and an overview of its plans for reauthorization of the statute that governs career and technical education (The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act or Perkins Act). It is clear to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) that the Administration still does not understand the value of career and technical education to our schools, students, workforce and economy.

In a proposal that would decimate career and technical education, the Administration is proposing to eliminate the bulk of the existing Perkins programs in order to create a new, competitive $1 billion Secondary and Technical Education State Grants Program that states could use to block grant with Title I. This program appears to be designed solely to improve student academic achievement, with accountability systems to monitor and report on student performance and resources for states to create high-stakes, end-of-course high school exams.

For a proposal that is titled "Education for the Workforce," there is little value placed on technical skill attainment. With the economy struggling, it is unfortunate that this Administration has chosen not to invest in our country's future. Employers require a solid academic foundation coupled with advanced technical skills that can be attained at the secondary or postsecondary level. Perkins supports programs that meet this need.

Transforming career and technical education funding into a block grant program ignores the reality that students perform better and stay in school when they believe their course work is relevant to their future endeavors. Career and technical education provides that relevance-both at the secondary and postsecondary levels. In addition, block grants traditionally have been detrimental to education, with the eventual reduction and elimination of funding tied to these funding streams.

Significantly, from the Administration?s description of this new initiative, it is unclear how much of this funding would reach the community and technical colleges because states have the option of sending these funds to local education agencies for Title I activities without competition. This is a no-win situation for the entire career and technical education community.

Furthermore, if states decide not to use these funds for Title I and instead award competitive grants to local education agencies and community and technical colleges, the amount of resources required to administer this vast competitive grant program would be substantial, robbing students of the program improvements envisioned by the Administration. In addition, the program would disadvantage small and rural areas that do not have the resources to effectively apply for grants. Instead, the Administration's strategies will LEAVE EVEN MORE CHILDREN BEHIND.

After reviewing the President's proposal, NASDCTEc President Ann Benson said, "Unfortunately, we cannot support the Administration's plan as currently envisioned. Quality career and technical education programs represent the essence of effective education-academic skills, technical skills, relevance, and enthusiastic student participation. We look forward to working with Congress to develop a Perkins reauthorization package that exemplifies the best in career and technical education instead of a proposal that would end this critical national resource."

In addition, ACTE President Kathy Jo Elliott said, "We are disappointed in the direction of the Administration's proposal, but look forward to a constructive dialogue with Congress about how to enhance career and technical education rather than eliminate it. Effective career and technical education helps students gain the academic and technical skills necessary to pursue postsecondary education and be successful in the 21st century workforce." 

ACTE and NASDCTEc advocate jointly for career and technical education with Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, and the White House. The Perkins Act provides the largest federal investment into high schools, and the loss of these funds would decimate reform efforts across the nation.