FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 14, 2006

CONTACT: Megan Reiter (703) 683-9312; mreiter@acteonline.org

Alexandria, VA—Today, after years of anticipation, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) celebrated the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998. The new law, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, which was passed almost unanimously by Congress in late July, was officially signed into law Saturday by President Bush.

ACTE’s executive director Janet B. Bray commented, “This is a great victory for the career and technical education community. We are pleased that Congress and the Administration have recognized the importance of these programs and their role in American competitiveness.”

Bray added, “We are eager to help lead the implementation of the new legislation, and to continue to work with the Administration to strengthen the country’s education and workforce development systems.”

The new law includes three of ACTE’s top conference priorities; using the term “career and technical education” instead of “vocational education,” maintaining the Tech Prep program as a separate federal funding stream within the legislation and maintaining state administrative funding at 5 percent of a state’s allocation. The new law also includes new requirements for “programs of study” that link academic and technical content across secondary and postsecondary education, and strengthened local accountability provisions that will ensure continuous program improvement.

ACTE’s president Bob Scarborough stated, “The new law reflects the positive changes being made and implemented in many career and technical education programs across the country, and ensures we are providing all students with an education that will help them succeed in the workplace and in life.”

The Perkins Act provides almost $1.3 billion in federal support for career and technical education programs in all 50 States. The law which was enacted today by the President will extend through 2012.
To view ACTE’s full summary of the changes in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, click here. The Association for Career and Technical Education is the national professional association for the field of career and technical education. ACTE’s membership includes more than 30,000 teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.

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