On October 9, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “AI’s Potential to Support Patients, Workers, Children, and Families.” 

The witnesses for the hearing included: 

• Dr. Russ Altman: Professor of Bioengineering, Genetics, Medicine, Biomedical Data Science and Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI  

• John Bailey, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute 

• Harriet Pearson: Managing Principal, Axia Advisory 

• Dr. Juliet Schor: Professor, Boston College  

• Carlos Aramayo: President, UNITE HERE Local 26 

On education and workforce development, the hearing centered on the need for proactive planning and policy to address how AI is already changing the workforce and the potential disruptions to the labor market. For instance, Professor Altman discussed how AI is being used to augment diagnosis, improve scheduling, reduce paperwork and free up time for other work.  

Lawmakers raised that while AI can raise productivity and create new kinds of roles, it can also disrupt existing jobs if the person holding the job is not equipped with the right training. There was a recognition that new policy is needed to ensure that everyone can obtain the skills necessary to stay competitive in the changing job market. 

When the conversation shifted to policy recommendations, the need to invest in research was a key theme. It was also suggested that policymakers should prioritize education and workforce development when thinking about future legislation. AI should be integrated into K-12 education, community college programs and other workforce development initiatives. 

According to John Bailey, the Department of Education (ED) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) can also expand partnerships with postsecondary institutions, nonprofits and developers to conduct rigorous evaluations of AI platforms. This can start with modernizing reskilling and upskilling and supporting programs that are developing AI-related curriculum.  

A recording of the hearing can be found here.

The federal government is still shut down as Members of Congress remain at a stalemate on a continuing resolution for FY 2026 appropriations. While leaders from both parties continue to emphasize their specific priorities, with Democrats focused on extending health care tax credits that are set to expire and Republicans not supportive of addressing that issue in this bill, little progress has been made on negotiations. Senate Republicans announced that they will introduce and vote on legislation next week that would pay some federal workers as well as active military members, while the Administration has also taken steps to shift funding to cover troop pay and some other areas. There were also some conversations this week on moving forward on the underlying FY 2026 appropriations bills, but those efforts stalled. Read more updates below. 

• Federal Judge Halts Shutdown Firings: On Oct. 15, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from issuing mass layoffs during the government shutdown, stemming from a lawsuit brought on by several federal labor unions. This follows the Administration’s move last week to fire over 400 workers from the Education Department (ED), decimating the special education and other offices, as well as numerous other agencies 

• National Accreditation Meeting Delayed by Shutdown: On Oct. 14, the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity at ED—which brings together accreditation agencies—delayed its semiannual convening for the second time in a year. The committee was originally supposed to meet on Oct. 21 after an initial delay but pushed the date back again to December as a result of the government shutdown.  

• Trump Administrations Expands Funding Compact to All Colleges: On Oct. 14, the Trump Administration invited any postsecondary institution to sign a funding compact that was initially only sent to elite universities. The compact would give preferential funding status to institutions that align with the Administration’s priorities on gender and other topics. Brown, MIT and several other universities have already rejected the compact. 

• Senate HELP Committee Releases Report on AI and Jobs: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Democrats recently released a report on job losses from AI and automation. The report suggested that many major workforce sectors could see more than half of their jobs replaced over the next decade. CTE-related occupations are implicated in the report. 

• ACTE Submits Comments on Modernizing IES: This week, ACTE and Advance CTE submitted comments to ED on recommendations for redesigning the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), calling on IES to collect additional data on CTE topics. We also signed on to broader comments organized by the Institute for Higher Education Policy  

EdResearch for Action recently released a brief that compiles and analyzes years of CTE research, data and evidence to identify six common components of effective and impactful CTE programs. 

• Pathway Structure and Access: Students who complete multiple, aligned courses in a CTE pathway have stronger positive outcomes than those who complete stand-alone courses. Although Perkins V defines secondary CTE concentrators as students who complete two or more courses in the same program, the authors note that the most successful CTE programs have students complete three or more courses. 

• Work-based Learning: Evidence is emerging that work-based learning (WBL) is a common feature of effective CTE programs. The most impactful WBL models align with students’ interests and career goals and equip them with industry-relevant skills and experience.  

• Partnerships with Employers and Colleges: Partnerships among CTE programs, employers and postsecondary institutions, such as early postsecondary credit experiences, connect students with various college and career opportunities and strengthen the alignment between education and the workforce.  

• Teacher Expertise and Recruitment: Given data on CTE teacher shortages and research that indicates differences in outcomes based on CTE teacher subject matter expertise, the authors recommend expanding alternative pathways for industry professionals to enter teaching, such as encouraging them to take part-time roles. 

• Student Exploration and Advising: In the program models for which we have the most evidence about positive CTE impacts, students have the opportunity to explore various college and career pathways that interest them, reducing misplacement and boosting student engagement, retention and achievement. 

• Equity and Access: Schools should work to ensure that effective CTE programs are accessible to historically underrepresented students, such as multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Disaggregating CTE enrollment and completion data by student demographics enables school leaders to identify gaps in access and implement policies to address them. 

In addition to the brief, a self-assessment tool allows district and school leaders to evaluate whether their CTE programs align with the evidence-based practices above and reflect on next steps. The data and practices outlined in the brief also align with the elements and criteria within the ACTE Quality CTE Program of Study Framework® and self-evaluation. 

The federal government shut down on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. While there have been several votes on different versions of a continuing resolution (CR) that would reopen the government in the Senate since that date, none have been able to get the votes necessary to pass as Democrats and Republicans clash over the inclusion of health care and other funding provisions. The House remains in recess as focus has largely been on Senate activity. Read below for more updates. 

• Agencies Release Shutdown Contingency Plans: The Department of Education (ED) released its contingency plan for the shutdown, which would result in the furlough of approximately 1,485 of its 1,700 employees. A limited staff of 215 individuals would be responsible for continuing essential functions like distributing student aid and managing existing grant funds. Read more about the plan here. The Department of Labor also has a Q and A on the shutdown here.   

• Trump Administration Begins New Wave of Layoffs at ED: On Oct. 10, the Trump Administration fired more than 460 employees from ED as part of a broader move to pressure Congress to end the government shutdown. The firings include nearly all employees who administer special education funding as well as those in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. 

• Senate Confirms New Leaders at ED: On Oct. 7, the Senate voted to confirm Kimberly Richey as the next Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at ED. In addition to Richey, the Senate confirmed other Education and Labor Department nominees as part of a resolution that approved over 100 federal nominees at once, including Kristen Baesler from North Dakota as assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education, overseeing federal K-12 functions, and David Barker from Iowa as assistant secondary of postsecondary education. You can read the full list of nominations here.  

• Federal Judge Dismisses Case Against Gainful Employment: On Oct. 2, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from a group of cosmetology schools against President Biden’s gainful employment rule. The schools argued that the rule would unfairly penalize cosmetology programs because ED does not accurately capture the salaries of cosmetology graduates. This has implications for data collection, reporting and accountability for CTE certificate programs at public area CTE centers and community and technical colleges as well.  

• Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign Compact: On Oct. 1, the Trump Administration asked several elite universities to sign an agreement to ensure access to federal research funds. The agreement would require the universities to align themselves with several Administration priorities, including capping enrollment of international students and adopting stricter definitions of gender.  

• Trump Administration Withdraws Nominee to Lead the BLS: On Sept. 30, the Trump Administration withdrew the nomination of E.J. Antoni—Chief Economist at the Heritage Foundation—to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This follows the firing of the previous BLS commissioner in August. A new nominee is expected to be announced soon. 

• DOL Awards Over $86 Million to Support Skills Training Programs: On Sept. 30, the Labor Department awarded over $86 million to 14 states to support skills training programs in high-demand industries. The funding will be primarily used to address skilled trades needs such as AI, advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding and welding. 

• FCC Ends E-rate Support for Wi-Fi Hotspots in School Buses, Libraries: On Sept. 30, the Federal Communications Commission voted to reverse Biden-era expansions of the E-rate Program that allowed schools and libraries to utilize E-rate funds to pay for Wi-Fi hotspots in school buses and libraries. Several education organizations have released statements opposing the move. 

• Appeals Court Rules that ED Can Fire Civil Rights Staff: On Sept. 29, a federal appeals court ruled that ED may proceed with a reduction-in-force at the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), overturning a previous court ruling that mandated the Department to rehire OCR staffers fired earlier this year. The ruling comes at a time when OCR is facing scrutiny over its growing backlog of cases. 

Congress has been focusing most of its time on negotiations and political maneuvering related to the upcoming deadline for approving Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills. Without final bills or a continuing resolution (CR), the government will shut down after Sept. 30. Meanwhile, the Department of Education (ED) has stayed busy with several announcements. Read more updates below!

• House Passes CR to Keep Government Funded; CR Bills Fail in Senate: Last week, the House passed a CR to extend current funding levels through Nov. 21 to avoid a government shutdown. However, that bill, as well as a different version of the CR put forward by Democrats, were both voted down in the Senate. To avoid a government shutdown, both chambers must pass the same CR before Wednesday at 12 AM. We will be monitoring the situation carefully for impacts on CTE.
• House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth Hearing on School Choice: On Sept. 17, both Republicans and Democrats of the House Oversight Subcommittee discussed alternative non-degree pathways available to learners. Both sides of the aisle agreed on the importance of expanding CTE education linked to career opportunities. Watch the hearing here.
• Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on State of K-12 Education: On Sept. 18, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing with a panel of researchers, state leaders and educators to discuss declining student academic achievement. During the hearing, Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) emphasized the importance of investing in career centers and resources to help each high school graduate become career-ready.
• ED Announces 2025 U. Presidential Scholars: On Sept. 26, ED announced the 161 students who will be recognized as this year’s Presidential Scholars, including 20 scholars in CTE. You can view the full list of scholars here.
• ED Issues Updated Ed-Flex Guidance: On Sept. 17, ED released updated guidance on the Ed-Flex, allowing states to waive certain federal requirements for their local grantees. This aims to help state and local agencies customize education strategies, with flexibility covering parts of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), including Titles I, II-A, IV-A, as well as Perkins. Read more about it here.
• Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-ED) and Katie Britt (R-LA) Introduce the Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act: Sens. Blunt-Rochester and Britt introduced a bill that would expand federal resources for community colleges and technical centers to integrate virtual and augmented reality into their training and education programs. ACTE endorsed this bill and you can read the full version here.
• ED Issues New Grant Priorities: Recently, ED has announced a number of new proposed discretionary grant supplemental priorities, including one on career pathways and workforce readiness. Other new proposed priorities include patriotic education and meaningful learning. Feedback on the proposed priorities is open for 30 days. If finalized, these priorities could be used as ED issues a variety of competitive grants.
• 2026-27 FAFSA Opens to All: On Sept. 24, ED announced that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form for students enrolling in postsecondary education during the 2026-27 school year was available, even earlier than required.

ACTE and Alabama ACTE concluded its media tour with three stops across southern Alabama.

The day started at the Enterprise Career and Technology Center. We first heard from school leaders who highlighted the center’s relationship with the largest employer in the area. Most notably, M1 Enterprises has approximately 5,000 employees, and their work directly supports the nearby military base, Fort Rucker. While on the tour, we first stopped in the aviation program where we learned about the direct career pathways the program has into M1.

Our second stop was a short trip down the road to Enterprise High School. Upon entrance, we saw a drone demonstration and learned of all the career opportunities these students will have when they earn their FAA commercial drone credential. Outside of the military, earning that credential can lead to careers in real estate, agriculture and insurance amongst several others. Other stops on the tour included watching students construct a tiny house, hearing about the success of the cybersecurity students in statewide competitions and watching hands on learning in the automotive program from cars donated by companies like General Motors.

The tour concluded at Andalusia High School. After hearing from Mayor Earl Johnson, we embarked on our tour starting at the football field. There we saw the broadcast booth where students run the operations for all of the football games. We then moved to the newly renovated news studio where the students were preparing their next broadcast. The day ended after seeing CPR demonstration.

We want to thank all of the schools that allowed us on their campuses and showed us the tremendous success of their students. We are truly grateful to have gone on this tour and are looking forward to the next one!

Today, Alabama ACTE and ACTE continued its media two with visits to Auburn High School and Elmore County Area Technical Center.

The day began at Auburn High School where we were greeted by students in the JROTC program. We then got to hear directly from school and district leadership before touring four programs:

• Animal Science
• Army JROTC
• Entertainment & Media
• Health Science

We heard directly from the students who told us that their CTE program is preparing them not just for their future career but also for life. JROTC students said that their program is teaching them important skills such as leadership and large scale planning and logistics. Notably, the many of the students are completing multiple CTE programs. As conversations with the students continued, we found that it was not uncommon for them to be enrolled in two programs.

The tour continued with the Elmore County Area Technical Center where we got to stop into all 15 programs with a special focus on:

• Automotive Services
• Culinary Arts
• Public Safety and Law
• Drafting and Technical Design

At the start of the tour, we heard directly from the students who shared with us some of their plans for after high school. During the tour, we saw CTE in action! In the law and safety program, students were learning how to transport their fellow firefighters in the event of an injury while on a call. In the Automotive Services class, students were working on two cars, including their instructors.

The tour concludes tomorrow when we visits programs in Enterprise and Andalusia.