With the federal government reopened, activity in Congress and the Administration has ramped up significantly. Congress has returned to work on FY 2026 appropriations bills, and ACTE is advocating for an increase in Perkins funding as well as continued investment for other education and workforce programs (see the Action Alert below). The House also held a hearing on the impact and importance of CTE across the nation. In other news this week, the Department of Education (ED) announced that it was moving the administration of funding for various programs to different federal agencies. Read more updates below. 

• ACTION ALERT: Ask Your Members of Congress to Support Education Funding in the FY 2026 Appropriations Bill: With the government reopened, Congress has turned their attention to finishing FY 2026 appropriations bills, including education and CTE funding. While the Senate bill maintains level funding for Perkins grants, the House bill provides a $25 million increase but makes steep cuts across other education and workforce programs. It is essential that Congress provides more CTE funding while also maintaining sustained investment and support for other important education and workforce programs. CLICK HERE to urge your Members of Congress to support education and workforce development funding in FY 2026! 
• Appropriations Leaders Meet on FY 2026 Plans: For the first time since the government shutdown, top House and Senate appropriations leaders met this week to discuss next steps in the FY 2026 funding process. While no final decisions emerged from the meeting, there are some reports that the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill could be part of the next legislative package.  
• ED Announces New Partnerships to Move Agency Functions: On Nov. 18, ED announced six new interagency agreements that would shift the administration of funding for various programs to other federal agencies. Among these include moving Office of Elementary and Secondary Education programs to the Department of Labor (DOL) and moving Indian Education programs to the Department of the Interior. These IAAs are aligned with the Administration’s goal of dismantling ED and mimic the IAA implemented earlier this year that moved Perkins and adult ed funding to the DOL. Read more on the blog here. 
• House Holds Hearing on CTE: On Nov. 19, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education held a CTE hearing titled “From Classroom to Career: Strengthening Skills through CTE.” The witnesses highlighted the impact of CTE in their fields while Republicans and Democrats largely focused on different issues. Read more on the blog here. 
• ED Releases 2023-24 Perkins Data: Last week, the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education released 2023-24 CTE enrollment and performance data. ACTE has begun preliminary analysis of this data, and you can read some of our findings on the blog here.
• House Holds Hearing on Future of College: On Nov. 18, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing titled, “The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs.” The hearing focused on lowering costs, increasing flexibility and aligning postsecondary programs with workforce needs. You can watch the hearing and read testimony here.  
• ED Makes Additional Appointments: On Nov. 14, ED appointed Richard Lucas to serve as the Acting Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid. Lucas previously served as Chief Financial Officer for the office. Additionally, ED appointed former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant to sit on the National Assessment Governing Board on Nov. 17. 
• IES Releases Guides on CCR, Educator Data: This week, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) released two guides on how state and local education agencies can collect and utilize college and career readiness data as well as educator workforce data. We encourage state and local data practitioners to share these resources with their networks. 
• Secretary McMahon Holds Postsecondary Roundtable: On Nov. 19, Secretary McMahon hosted a roundtable with postsecondary leaders on reforming colleges and universities across the nation. Discussion points included increasing public confidence in postsecondary education and improving degree outcomes. The roundtable also discussed the funding compact circulated earlier this year. 
• EdWeek Releases Report on CTE and AI: This week, Education Week released a report examining the intersection of CTE and AI in the classroom and workplace. ACTE worked extensively with EdWeek as the report was being developed. Read more on the blog here. 
• President Trump Signs EO on Foster Youth: On Nov. 13, President Trump signed an Executive Order that seeks to improve the nation’s foster care system. Among the priorities listed in the EO include connecting foster youth with short-term credentials and occupational training. Youth who are in or have aged out of the foster care system are a “special population” group under Perkins.  
• National Orgs Announce Career-connected Learning Awards: Building Hope and American Student Assistance have partnered together to create the Future Forward Schools Prize & Fellowship Program. The program will recognize promising career-connected learning (CCL) programs by awarding $50,000 to five schools with a CCL program along with a year-long fellowship for school leaders. The application opens Dec. 3, and eligible applicants include public, private and charter middle and high schools that have a CCL program, serve a student population with at least 50% of students from under-resourced or underrepresented backgrounds and have existed for at least two years. Learn more here. 
• House and Senate Announce 2026 Calendars: Both the House and Senate calendars are now available for 2026! You can use these calendars to identify when Members of Congress will be in DC for congressional responsibilities and when they may be available for events or meetings in their states and districts. Notably, both chambers are in session during NPS this year!