Leveraging Learner Voice in CTE: Empowering Learners, Enhancing CTE: A recent publication from Advance CTE highlights how five states – Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire, Oregon and Wisconsin – engage learners to foster successful education and career pathway programs. For instance, Colorado has embedded their perspectives onto local advisory committees and engaged with recent CTE graduates to
promote program development as part of expanding equitable college and career pathways and sustainable work-based learning partnerships. Other states employ similar tactics when relying on learner voice: Delaware has organized a task force of 16 learners to provide input on CTE programs, New Hampshire has incorporated learners into state CTE Advisory Board meetings, and Oregon established the CTE Student Advisory Council, which serves to provide input into CTE decision-making.  

This work builds off of a toolkit that ACTE and Advance CTE developed for state and local CTE leaders with actionable resources, guidance and tools to ensure CTE learner voices are elevated and heard for the improvement of CTE policies and practices. 

School Pulse Panel: Summer and Afterschool Programs: A recent update to the NCES School Pulse Panel provides data about summer and afterschool program for public schools across the nation. As of September 2024, 80% of public schools offer academically focused summer programs, but only 4% of public schools offer a work-based learning summer program and only 3% of public schools offer a summer internship program.  

Is College Worth It?: The Pell Institute published a report examining the perceived value of higher education among minority students, particularly in a time where education debt and other financial burdens are at an all-time high for students and graduates. 

Researchers found that while the financial strain of higher education significantly impacts students, students still believe that attaining a college degree, including associate and bachelor’s degrees, will be worthwhile. Particularly, the majority of students note that they are pursuing a degree to secure a good-paying job (66% strongly agreed, 26% agreed) and to learn skills that will help them succeed in their careers (60% strongly agreed, 33% agreed). Other factors in the perceived importance of attending college include the following: 

• Marginalized students strive for college education as part of acknowledging the sacrifices made by their families (especially for immigrant families). 

• Students want to build upon their social capital by networking in college settings with faculty, researchers, employers and other notable individuals in order to accelerate their careers. 

• Students view their college education as making a broader societal impact, wanting to use their degrees to advance change and equity in society. 

Making Every Rung of the Credential Ladder Count: Understanding How Community College Certificates Can Meet Learner Expectations for Economic Mobility: Education Equity Solutions released a report regarding community college certificates. Research on these certificates suggests wide variation in their effectiveness at propelling students into economic prosperity, especially when examining data by race, income, ethnicity, disability status and other markers. The authors found the following issues to be addressed by community college leaders and policymakers: 

• There is significant misalignment between student and college goals in certificate programs. Community college educators often view their credential programs as a “first step” in a longer pathway incorporating stackable credentials, but students expect these programs to lead them to a secure career immediately after completion. 

• Even if a student’s first certificate is stackable, they often are unable to return to college as their jobs do not pay them enough and they have long working hours. Many students also do not believe that earning another credential would help them. 

• Graduates appreciate when credential programs are designed to target specific, high-quality jobs.  

The Department of Education announced that the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form is now available to the public, two weeks ahead of the Department's goal of December 1. They have been working on updating the form following challenges that applicants and schools faced last year and shared several resources and other materials to help smooth over the transition.  

This release follows four rounds of Beta testing that the Department conducted over the last few months, made available to select groups of students, families and college acceptance administrators. Both the House and Senate also passed the FAFSA Deadline Act, which would mandate that the form be made available by October 1 rather than the Department’s current deadline of January 1 in future years.  

Below are some resources to consult when helping students and families with their FAFSA forms. ACTE will share if there are any updates to the form or application process! 

• Create a StudentAid.gov Account 

• Tips for Filling out the FAFSA form 

• Parent Wizard Tool 

• Step by Step Help 

President-elect Donald Trump picked Linda McMahon, a business and wrestling executive and former administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), to lead the Education Department. Most recently, McMahon served as co-chair of Trump’s transition team.  

From 2017-2019, McMahon served as the SBA administrator. During her tenure, she focused on promoting small business growth and frequently traveled the country talking with small business owners touting the effects of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. She left the Administration in 2019 to help create the American First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank that’s been closely involved in planning for the second term. 

McMahon’s education experience includes serving on the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009. She is also a trustee at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic school in Fairfield, Connecticut. 

In his announcement of McMahon, President-elect Trump said that McMahon will bring decades of leadership experience as well as a “deep understanding of both Education and Business” to empower the next generation of students and workers. The president-elect also reiterated his desire to give states more control of education systems.  

One potential focus of McMahon could be short-term Pell. In a September op-ed, McMahon advocated for the expansion of Pell Grants for short-term training programs. In the piece she states, “many degree programs have lost sight of their mission. And their one-size-fits-all solution to workforce development has become outdated. Our educational system must offer clear and viable pathways to the American Dream aside from four-year degrees.” 

As McMahon’s nomination moves through the Senate, ACTE will keep you updated on the latest developments.  

In January, twelve new senators-elect are expected to take office and join the 119th Congress. Though some have yet to announce their positions and plans regarding education and workforce development, many have outlined priorities and interests in CTE they intend to pursue. Many have also served in federal, state and local government offices, providing us insights into what they might seek to accomplish as Senators. Keep reading for more details on who they are and what we know so far about their platforms to inform your advocacy next year! 

• Senator-elect Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) 

Rep. Ruben Gallego ran to fill the open Senate seat following Sen.  Kyrsten Sinema’s retirement announcement. He currently represents Arizona’s 3rd District in the House of Representatives. 

Rep. Gallego has been vocal on several education issues including chronic absenteeism and funding for programs like Head Start. He also introduced the Teachers LEAD Act in the House to establish a grant program to support and improve teacher retention.  

• Senator-elect Adam Schiff (D-CA) 

Rep. Adam Schiff currently represents California’s 30th District in the House of Representatives. This seat he will be filling in the Senate is currently occupied by Sen. Laphonza Bulter, who was appointed after Sen. Dianne Feinstein passed away in 2023 and decided not to run for reelection.   

Rep. Schiff has previously worked on the accessibility and affordability of higher education and is an avid supporter of student loan forgiveness. Schiff has also supported funding increases for programs created by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act  (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). He is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus and has sponsored legislation to support CTE including the Clean Energy Workforce Act to, “develop career and technical education programs of study and facilities in the areas of renewable energy.” 

• Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) 

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester is currently serving as a congresswoman for Delaware At-Large and ran to fill the vacant seat after Sen. Tom Carper announced his retirement. The Congresswoman campaigned on student loan forgiveness and her work to support funding for CTE pathways.  

Rep. Blunt Rochester introduced the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act in the House to expand Pell Grant eligibility and is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus. She has also worked on other legislation to support CTE, such as the Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act to support community colleges and CTE centers’ work with immersive technology.  

• Senator-elect Jim Banks (R-IN) 

Rep. Jim Banks ran to fill the open seat in Indiana, created when Sen. Mike Braun (currently a member of the Senate CTE Caucus) ran for Governor. Currently representing Indiana’s 3rd District, Rep. Banks sits on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Rep. Banks’ work on education has been primarily focused on issues including Title IX and free speech on college campuses. He is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus. 

• Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) 

Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks currently serves as 8th County Executive in Prince George’s County in Maryland and ran to fill the open Senate seat following Sen. Benjamin Cardin’s retirement announcement. She is an advocate of CTE and has brought attention to CTE programs in the state, participating in CTE month activities. Senator-elect Alsobrooks also allocated funds to construct a CTE Hub in Temple Hills, MD. She has publicly supported lowering the cost of college, offering free community college to low-income students and Pell Grant expansion.  

• Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) 

Rep. Elissa Slotkin ran to fill the open Senate seat in Michigan following Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s retirement announcement. While Rep. Slotkin doesn’t lay out explicit priorities on education, she has advocated for the CHIPS and Science Act and strengthening infrastructure in Michigan. She has also received endorsement from the Michigan Education Association and is currently a member of the House CTE Caucus. 

• Senator-elect Tim Sheehy (R-MT) 

Senator-elect Tim Sheehy won his Senate race in Montana against incumbent Sen. Jon Tester who is currently in the Senate CTE Caucus. Senator-elect Sheehy is new to political office but served as a Lieutenant in the Navy for nine years and founded an aerial firefighting and wildfire management company. Senator-elect Sheehy’s exact policies on education have yet to be shared, but he has discussed an interest in social politics within schools. 

• Senator-elect Andrew Kim (D-NJ) 

Rep. Andrew Kim currently represents New Jersey’s 3rd District in the House of Representatives and ran for election to replace the former Sen. Bob Menendez. Congressman Kim is a member of the House CTE Caucus and has previously supported legislation such as the CHIPS and Science Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He also received the endorsements of the New Jersey Education Association and the National Education Association. 

• Senator-elect Bernie Moreno (R-OH) 

Senator-elect Bernie Moreno won his Senate race against incumbent Sherrod Brown, who is currently a member of the Senate CTE Caucus. Moreno is formerly a businessman, having grown and sold multiple companies prior to his Senate bid. While Senator-elect Moreno has not discussed education at length, he ran on 16 priorities including American energy independence and restoring American manufacturing.  

• Senator-elect John Curtis (R-UT) 

Rep. John Curtis currently represents Utah’s 3rd District in the House of Representatives and recently won his bid to fill the empty seat in Utah following Sen. Mitt Romney’s retirement. He has previously worked on the Time to Completion Act to help improve community college graduation rates. Rep. Curtis has noted his belief that decisions regarding education should be made at the local level with less federal regulation.  

• Senator-elect Jim Justice (R-WV) 

Governor Jim Justice won his Senate election to replace Sen. Joe Manchin, following his retirement announcement. Senator Manchin is currently a member of the Senate CTE Caucus. Governor Justice’s priorities are based on his interest in preparing students for 21st century careers and highlight the work that West Virginia has done to increase teacher and school service personnel pay. Additionally, as governor he worked to expand access to computer science education and has committed to promoting funding for CTE when he is sworn in as Senator.  

• Senator-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA)  

Senator-elect Dave McCormick has been declared the winner of his Senate race against incumbent, Sen. Bob Casey. Prior to his Senate race, Senator-elect McCormick served in the Army and worked under the Bush Administration. 

Senator-elect McCormick has expressed interest in expanding school choice, committing to free expression and valuing civics. He has also noted the importance of creating new workforce training programs and giving job training and community colleges the same respect and financial support as is directed toward a four-year college education.  

*Pennsylvania has issued an automatic recount given how close the results were. If anything changes, we will update and let you know! 

As the dust settles on last week’s general election, we are starting to get a clearer picture of what changes will look like within the Executive and Legislative branches. There will certainly be some immediate impacts, and others that will have greater implications for the future.  

Donald Trump won the Presidential race, and Republicans are poised to control the Senate and the House for the next two years. As of now, 12 new Senators and 59 new Representatives have been elected. 

While we are waiting on the last few races to be called, it appears the Republicans will maintain a very slim majority in the House of Representatives, similar to their majority in this Congress. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) is expected to remain in the Speaker position. Key agenda items that House leaders have discussed are work on the economy, border security and amendments to education policies such as Title IX.  

In the Senate, party control will flip to Republicans, with the balance of power expected to be 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. y On November 13, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) was elected by Republicans as the next Senate majority leader, replacing Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who is stepping down from this role after leading Senate Republicans since 2007. Sen. Thune has served in the Senate since 2005, and you can read more about him on his website.  

The incoming Trump Administration has also begun organizing for the transition, including announcing nominations and meeting with congressional leaders and the Republican Caucus. Nominations have not been made for the Departments of Education or Labor, but we will be following this process closely.  

One of the most significant talking points of President-elect Trump related to education policy has been a promise to abolish the Department of Education. It’s important to note that this would require Congressional approval, which has been difficult to secure historically. There have been numerous times over the Department’s 45 years of existence that similar threats have been made, but Congress has never approved this move. Additionally, even if Congress did vote to eliminate the Department itself, each individual program housed within the Department of Education would still exist unless repealed by Congress, and thus would have to be moved to other federal agencies. Due to the important role Congress will play in these discussions, advocacy on this issue will be critical. We will provide updates as more plans are shared around this campaign priority and alert you to times where it will be most helpful to contact your Members of Congress.  

This week, Congress was quiet with focus on the general election. Results of the election will put Republicans in control of the Administration and the Senate. There are a number of districts still tallying votes for House races, so results in that Chamber have not been finalized. ACTE will share more information on the results of elections and their implications on CTE policy as we learn more. We will also be making extensive outreach to the transition team and to new Members of Congress to share CTE priorities and information, and will need your help to build these critical relationships. More info about how to get involved will be coming soon. In other news this week, the current Administration made several new announcements: 

• New Partnership Between Agriculture and Education to Expand SNAP Access for College Students: The Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Education announced a joint agreement to strengthen college student access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Data shows that millions of eligible students are not receiving benefits, so they are trying to increase awareness of the program to help students access their benefits. 

• Secretary Cardona Pens Op-ed on Investment in Rural Education: Secretary Cardona wrote an op-ed detailing the need for investment in rural education, specifically referencing the need for investments in community schools that offer certifications and direct pathways to employment.  

• Department of Agriculture Ban on School Lunch Fees: The Department of Agriculture announced students eligible for free or reduced meals will not be charged for processing fees in 2027. This policy will go into effect for families with income under 185% of federal poverty guidelines. 

• Department of Labor Awards Grants to Support Mine Safety, Health Training: The Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has awarded more than $10.5 million in grants to organization to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses by supporting programs such as safety and health courses. 

• Department of Labor Announced Event on Reentry Apprenticeship Opportunities: The Department of Labor announced a webinar with information on apprenticeship opportunities for individuals reentering their communities post-incarceration. This will contain information on correctional facility-based Registered Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeship programs and seamless transition strategies. 

• New Infrastructure Learning Community: The Department of Labor launched an Infrastructure Learning Community (ILC) to create a collaborative environment for federal grantees leading, supporting, scaling, or developing initiatives funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. 

• Tribal Consultation on Opportunities and Access to Registered Apprenticeship and for Competitive Grants: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) created a Tribal Consultation to discuss opportunities and access to registered apprenticeship programs for federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Nations and ETA grants to Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations.