This week, Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), co-chairs of the House CTE Caucus, and Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Ted Budd (R-NC), co-chairs of the Senate CTE Caucus, introduced resolutions honoring CTE Month. While the Senate resolution is closed for co-sponsors, it is not too late to ask your House Member to co-sponsor! In other news, a partial government shutdown began on Saturday, primarily affecting agencies under the Department of Homeland Security as lawmakers continue to disagree over funding related to immigration enforcement activities. The shutdown will have no effect on Department of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) programs. Read more updates below. 

• White House Releases CTE Month Message: On Feb. 13, the White House released a Presidential Message on Career and Technical Education Month. You can see the statement here.  

• DOL Announces $145 Million in Performance-based Apprenticeship Funding: On Feb. 13, the DOL formally announced a funding opportunity for $145 million to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs nationwide. Grants will be awarded to up to five cooperative agreements for a four-year period and will focus on pay-for-performance incentive payments programs, with an emphasis on industries with well-established apprenticeship infrastructure as well as expansion into new industries such as shipbuilding and artificial intelligence. Applications are due Apr. 3.  

• Upcoming Webinar on Combining Perkins and WIOA State Plans: ED’s Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) will be hosting a webinar on Feb 19, 3PM EST, for state leaders interested in combining their state’s Perkins and WIOA plans. Interested leaders may register for the webinar here. 

• Workforce Pell Rollout to Receive $65M from DOL: On Feb. 10, Labor Assistant Secretary Henry Mack announced that the Administration will soon launch this year’s Strengthening Community College Training Grants program with a focus on partnerships between community colleges and local industry for workforce development. 

• Updated Times: Connecting Talent to Opportunity Info Sessions: The Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge, sponsored by ED, is a $15 million prize competition to strengthen the connections between learners, education and training providers, and employers by fostering the development of integrated Talent Marketplaces. Register here for webinar sessions on Feb. 17 at 2 PM EST and March 3 at 2 PM EST. 

• ED Highlights Flexibility in Federal Education Funding to Support Innovative Teacher Workforce Strategies: On Feb. 9, ED sent guidance to states and districts, emphasizing existing flexibilities to use certain Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds to implement innovative teacher workforce strategies, including strategic staffing models. According to the new guidance, K-12 leaders could use funds to differentiate pay for teachers, principals or other school leaders for taking on additional responsibilities or leading instructional teams.  

• 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Vacates Preliminary Injunction Against EOs Aimed at Eliminating DEI Practices: A federal appeals court handed President Trump a legal victory in a case brought by two higher-ed associations on Feb. 13 when it vacated a preliminary injunction against two executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion practices in higher education.  

• CBO Projects Looming Pell Grant Shortfall: A new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office projects that, by 2027, the Pell Grant program will be facing an $11.5 billion funding shortfall unless Congress acts to invest additional funds into the program. If additional funds are not added, Congress could decide to make eligibility changes to the program reducing access.  

• ED Initiates Development of 2027-28 FAFSA Form: On Feb. 13, ED published a notice in the Federal Register requesting information and input from the public on the FAFSA as development for the 2027-28 form begins.  

• DOL Releases AI Literacy Framework: On Feb. 13, the DOL released an AI literacy framework aimed at aligning AI literacy efforts across the education and workforce systems. The framework identifies five foundational content areas of AI literacy and outlines seven effective delivery principles to equip students with AI-related skills. This includes providing students with AI-related hands-on and experiential learning experiences.   

• ED Issues Proposed Interpretive Rule to Eliminate the Use of “Regional” by Accrediting Agencies: On Feb. 13, ED issued a proposed interpretive rule arguing that the “regional” label used by accrediting agencies and other entities creates inappropriate barriers and misleads students and the public. Comments on the proposed rule are due by March 19.  

• ED Finalizes Secretary McMahon’s Priorities on Meaningful Learning Opportunities: On Feb. 12, ED published a notice on the Federal Register that finalizes Secretary McMahon’s supplemental priorities on meaningful learning opportunities, authorizing their use in the department’s discretionary grant programs. One of the priorities includes a focus on expanding career-connected and work-based learning opportunities. ACTE submitted comments to ED on these priorities last fall. 

• Maritime Administration Announces Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education: On Feb. 12, the Maritime Administrator announced it may designate a domestic maritime training or education entity as a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education. Applications for interested entities, which include postsecondary institutions, are due on April 13.  

• ED, DOL and Interior Department Hosted Consultation with Tribal Leaders: On Feb. 10, the Departments of Education, Labor and Interior hosted a consultation with tribal leaders to discuss the transfer of Indian Education programs from ED to the Department of the Interior. Tribal officials expressed opposition of the move during discussions. Additional public comments can be submitted through March 12.