Last week marked the start of CTE Month! House and Senate CTE Caucuses introduced their respective CTE Month Resolutions, and the Senate introduced the JOBS Act to expand Pell grants to short-term CTE programs. The Senate also set dates for confirmation hearings on the Administration’s nominees for Education and Labor Secretaries, despite rumors that President Trump plans to issue an Executive Order laying the groundwork for dismantling the Department of Education (which would ultimately require congressional approval).Tensions have also escalated between Democratic congressional leaders and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as that organization has been operating at the Department of Education. ACTE will provide updates on this as it unfolds. Keep reading for more details! 

• CTE Caucus Co-Chairs Introduce Resolution Recognizing CTE Month: Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) along with Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced a resolution recognizing National CTE Month, which is observed every February. Tell your Reps. to cosponsor the House resolution! The White House also issued a proclamation.  

• Senate Lawmakers Reintroduce JOBS Act Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) reintroduced the Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in high-quality, short-term workforce training programs between 150-600 clock hours over a period of at least 8 weeks. Read the blog for more details! 

• House Holds Hearing on the State of American Education: On Feb. 5, the House Education and Workforce Committee held their first full Committee hearing, “The State of American Education” to discuss issues facing students and their families, as well as faculty and administrators. Chair Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) set the tone for the hearing with agenda items including university spending, foreign influence, social issues and workforce development. Learn more on the blog! 

• Senate HELP Committee to Hold Confirmation Hearings for Secretaries of Education and Labor: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee announced a hearing for February 13 to review the Administration’s nominee, Linda McMahon, as Secretary of Education. Learn more about McMahon’s nomination on the blog. They also announced a hearing for February 12 to review the Administration’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, Former Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer.  

• Department of Education Announces Political Appointees: The Department of Education announced additional appointees, most notable Deputy Under Secretary and Special Assistants on Higher Education and K-12. ACTE will continue to work with the Department to advocate for CTE!  

• Department of Education Updates FAFSA: The Department of Education published the information collection form for the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and is on track to launch FAFSA by October 1, 2025. This is the updated deadline, mandated by the FAFSA Deadline Act.  

Earlier this week, the House Education and Workforce Committee held their first full Committee hearing, “The State of American Education” to discuss issues facing students and their families, as well as faculty and administrators. Witnesses included Parents Defending Education President Nicole Neily, American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Preston Cooper, Society for Human Resource Management President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr., and NAACP Legal Defense Fund President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson.

Chair Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) set the tone for the hearing with agenda items including university spending, foreign influence, social issues and workforce development. On workforce development, Rep. Walberg noted that a priority for the 119th Congress is a reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). He discussed with witnesses the high-level impact of the legislation, emphasizing the opportunity to strengthen the law and ensure that American workers have the skills and knowledge to succeed as they seek alternative pathways. Rep. Walberg also questioned witnesses on the significance of WIOA within the context of AI, and they agreed more funding needs to go toward skilling and upskilling.  

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) also noted that WIOA almost passed in the latest Continuing Resolution, passed last year to extend government funding through March, but was removed at the last minute. He also addressed the conversation surrounding a probable Executive Order that President Trump intends to introduce to eliminate the Department of Education, reminding his colleagues and the public that the Department of Education cannot be eliminated without Congressional approval.  

Rep. Courtney raised the relationship between the Department of Education and Perkins, emphasizing the important role the Department plays in assisting with the goals outlined in CTE legislation and providing funding to critical workforce development programs like welding and nursing.  

House CTE Caucus co-chair Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) highlighted CTE programs focused on agriculture and business. He also referenced a recent uptick in enrollment in CTE and work the House Education and Workforce Committee has done to bolster CTE in recent years. 

Reps. Rick Allen (R-GA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Mark Messmer (R-IN) also raised their concerns for ensuring that CTE programs and Registered Apprenticeships are properly funded.  

This week, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) reintroduced the Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act.  

This bipartisan legislation would expand Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in high-quality, short-term workforce training programs between 150-600 clock hours over a period of at least 8 weeks.  

Additionally, the JOBS Act would ensure students are receiving high-quality postsecondary credentials by requiring that credentials: 

• Meet standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), such as meaningful career counseling and aligning programs to in-demand career pathways or registered apprenticeship programs and appear on the WIOA Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) 

• Align with the Perkins definition of a “program of study” 

• Are recognized by employers, industry, or sector partnerships 

• Align with the skill needs of industries in the state or local economy 

• Are evaluated by an accrediting agency and approved by the state workforce board in addition to the U.S. Department of Education 

In total, JOBS is currently co-sponsored by 35 Senators with 22 Democrats,12 Republicans, and 1 independent.  

This is a longtime priority for the CTE community, and ACTE has been a strong supporter for the bill for many years. We will continue to advocate for this bill throughout this Congress and work with the bill’s lead sponsors to continue to build support.  

This week began on a hectic note following the Trump Administration’s memos regarding pausing funding for federal grants, loans and other assistance programs. Despite the original memo being rescinded, the situation is still very fluid and uncertain. Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, the Senate held several hearings for Trump’s cabinet nominees and will continue this work into the next week as well. The House and Senate CTE Caucuses are also preparing for CTE Month by introducing CTE Month Resolutions in the House and Senate. Keep reading for more details and stay tuned for updates! 

• ACTION ALERT: Ask Your Members of Congress to Cosponsor the 2025 House and Senate CTE Month Resolutions: The House and CTE Caucuses have introduced resolutions to designate February as CTE Month. CLICK HERE  to ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor this year’s CTE Month resolution. 

• Update on OMB Pause for Federal Grants: Earlier this week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced a temporary pause of agency grant, loan and other financial assistance programs. Later in the week, this pause was rescinded, potentially allowing for federal funds to be disbursed for now. It’s unclear what next steps will be or how programs will be impacted in the immediate aftermath. ACTE will continue to share updates as we learn more! 

• Department of Education to Enforce 2020 Title IX Rule: The Department of Education sent a letter to K-12 schools and institutions of higher education advising educators and administrators that the 2020 Title IX rules will be enforced, following the Biden Administration’s attempt to rewrite the Title IX regulations last year. 

• House Education and Workforce Committee to Hold Hearing Next Week: Next Wednesday, the House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing, “The State of American Education.” ACTE will share any relevant information from the hearing, and you can follow along with the livestream.  

• White House and Congress Focus on School Choice: Leadership in the House Education and Workforce Committee have introduced a resolution to recognize this week as National School Choice Week. This follows President Trump’s announcement of an executive order (EO)he plans to sign next week to designate discretionary money toward school choice programs, and reintroduction of a bill in Congress to provide tax credits for voucher-like scholarships. Read more about these activities on the blog.  

• White House Issues EO on “Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”: This week the White House issued another EO related to K-12 teaching, directing agency heads to provide an “Ending Indoctrination Strategy” and promoting patriotic education.  

• Department of Labor Publishes New Apprenticeship Toolkit: The Department of Labor updated and shared, “The Apprenticeship Training Toolkit,” with training materials and information for launching and expanding successful apprenticeship programs.  

• Department of Labor Shares Toolkit for Workforce Development Boards: The LEAD Center, funded by the Department of Labor, developed and published a toolkit to help workforce development boards with partnerships.  

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) setting out school choice as a major priority for the Trump Administration and the Department of Education. The school choice executive order calls for the Education Department to prepare guidance for states within 60 days on how they can tap into existing federal funding streams to bolster K-12 education choice programs. The Secretary of Education is also directed to include “education freedom” as a priority in competitive grant competitions, and other agencies are directed to review their programs for opportunities to use funding for choice options, including private, faith-based or public charter schools.  

Additionally, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) along with Reps. Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) reintroduced The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). The bill would provide up to $10 billion in annual tax credits to individuals or businesses who donate to scholarship granting organizations. It is meant to incentivize charitable donations to school choice programs.  

“Parents want to see their child succeed. Giving them the ability to make decisions over their child’s education puts that child’s needs first,” said Dr. Cassidy. “More freedom empowers parents and allows American children to thrive in school.” It is believed that lawmakers will push to include this bill in the upcoming budget reconciliation proposal.  

ACTE does not support legislation that would divert resources from public education, and is working in coalition with other education organizations to protect funding for public schools. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to ACTE’s Government Relations Manager, Jimmy Koch (jkoch@acteonline.org). 

Conditions For Sustainable and Equitable Pathways Systems: Advance CTE has published a resource analyzing progress made by Launch, a national initiative led by five organizations working to ensure all students have access to high-quality and equitable college and career pathways. The partnership identified a framework of five levers critical to driving change and highlights examples from states. 

• Policy: Effective policies take a systemic approach, encompassing multiple systems and incorporating best practices and data. For example, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future establishes clear goals ensuring students are prepared for successful careers, such as benchmarks for how many students graduate with an industry-recognized credential.
• Funding: Funding must provide states with the resources they need to build successful pathways to meet labor market demand. For instance, Delaware passed legislation that aligns federal, state, institutional and private funding streams to support Delaware Pathways. 
• Partnerships: Partnerships between systems and institutions must not only be built but also sustained and improved over time. Massachusetts’ Connecting Activities program is an example of establishing strong relationships between employers, schools and the state’s workforce boards to develop career training opportunities for students. 
• Data: State data systems should span education and workforce to identify outcomes and facilitate collaboration. For instance, created in 2021, the Virginia Office of Education Economics informs education and workforce policy by providing robust data alongside key partners across the state. 
• Equity: College and career pathways must be accessible, flexible and made available to all students. For example, Indiana supports credit for prior learning (CPL) by providing a searchable database for CPL options across the state. 

Current Term Enrollment Estimates – Fall 2024: The National Student Clearinghouse recently released fall 2024 postsecondary enrollment data. Important takeaways include: 

• Total postsecondary enrollment grew by 4.5% from last fall. For the second year in a row, double-digit growth occurred at public two-year institutions with a high vocational program focus, increasing 13.6%.  
• Freshman enrollment growth was the strongest at community colleges, increasing 7.1%.  
• Enrollment for dual enrollment students increased by 10.2% from last fall. In addition, enrollment of students aged 25 and above grew faster than students aged 18-20 and 21-24. 
• For the fourth consecutive year, undergraduate certificate enrollment grew, increasing by 9.9%. In addition, associate degree program enrollment increased by 6.3%. 
• Among major fields at two-year institutions, growth was highest for construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, precision production, and health professionals and related clinical sciences.  

This data highlights the growing relevance of postsecondary CTE as more students seek programs that prepare them for high-demand, high-paying careers. 

The Speed of Skill Change: Lightcast published a report comparing job postings between 2021 to 2024 to identify changes in required skills. Skills for the average job have changed by one-third, while one in four jobs has experienced a 75% change in skills. 

The report also details three key industries that are creating major skills disruptions for jobs: 

• AI: The demand for AI skills has exploded in recent years, with generative AI postings up 15,625% from 2021 to 2024. 
• Green/sustainability skills: Increased action from the federal government, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the emergence of green energy to power AI and other data centers has bolstered the need for workers with green skills. 
• Cybersecurity: The cybersecurity workforce has been expanding significantly since 2013 and is in demand across a wide range of sectors. 

Finally, the report includes workforce planning tips for organizations seeking to understand more about each of these industries. 

A Case for Equity in Experimental Learning: An article by Madhumita Banerjee and Kaila Bingen in the December 2024 edition of Experimental Learning and Teaching in Higher Education explored whether an alternative course could serve as a substitute for internships for students who might not have access to them. The researchers studied a specific course at a small, public four-year Midwestern university that serves a disproportionately high percentage of disadvantaged students.  

The course, a standard three-credit college course, was developed in response to the university prioritizing building career success for students after finding that very few students ever complete an internship. The curriculum focuses on career development and preparation for students’ futures, including building resumes, developing interview experience, and increasing students’ confidence to apply for a professional position, graduate school or pursue any other pathway they choose. 

Statistical analysis revealed that students taking this course achieved significant improvement in all eight career competencies measured in the study (career and self-development, critical thinking, professionalism, leadership, communication, teamwork, technology, and equity and inclusion). Leadership emerged as the most improved competency, followed by both critical thinking and career and self-development. 

The House and Senate CTE Caucuses are once again leading the annual CTE Month Resolutions to mark February as CTE Month. House CTE Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), have introduced the resolution in the House. Senate CTE Caucus co-chairs Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the resolution in the Senate.  

CLICK HERE to ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor this year’s CTE Month resolution. 

These resolutions recognize February 2025 as CTE Month. CTE Month is a critical time in raising awareness of the role that CTE plays in connecting learners to high-wage, in-demand career opportunities that are vital to building a 21st-century workforce and strengthening the American economy.  

Strong support for the CTE Month Resolution will help to ensure that CTE is a priority for the 119th Congress . Using ACTE’s Action Center, you can identify your Members of Congress and send a message to their office to ask them to co-sponsor the Resolution. If you have direct contacts in your Members’ offices, we urge you to call or email them directly.  

House members have the entire month of February to cosponsor the Resolution. Representatives can sign on as a cosponsor of the House CTE Month Resolution by contacting: 

• Brian Arata (brian.arata@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Thompson’s office 

• Allie Pearce (allie.pearce@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Bonamici’s office 

The deadline for the Senate Resolution is January 31. Senators can sign on as a cosponsor of the Senate CTE Month Resolution by contacting: 

• Rebecca Howard (rebecca_howard@kaine.senate.gov) in Sen. Kaine’s office