Embracing Neurodiversity at Work, Unleashing America’s Largest Untapped Talent Pool: In the face of the growing workforce challenges facing the U.S. economy, the American Enterprise Institute has published a report that advances the understanding of the opportunities and challenges of building environments that empower neurodivergent workers’ strengths and needs. Researchers estimate there could be as many as 67 million neurodivergent Americans across the U.S. and that the unemployment rate for neurodivergent adults is 30% to 40%, roughly eight times the rate for individuals without disabilities.

More findings below:

• One in 36 American adults (2.8%) have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one in 22 American adults (4.6%) have ADHD, and between 3% and 7% of Americans have dyslexia.
• Some estimate that the unemployment rate for workers with ASD is 85% and underemployment is also a significant problem. However, 60% of adults with ASD who receive vocational rehabilitation services gain employment.
• The number of neurodivergent job candidates is growing, with approximately 700,000 to 1 million ASD youth turning 18 by the end of this decade, nearly double the rate that experts previously expected.
• Employers are reporting shifts to skills-based hiring practices because of difficulties in filling open positions, an approach that may elevate performance on job-relevant skills above performance in job interviews and related social situations.

The authors recommend, among other actions, supporting education-to-career pathways for neurodivergent individuals and investing in and improving workforce development and job training and coaching programs.

Who Deserves State Financial Aid? Eligibility Criteria for Students Entering College: The Education Trust recently published a report that explores the state financial aid funding profiles of 10 states across the nation to shed light on the status quo for equitable access to postsecondary education. Researchers found that since 2008, state funding for public two- and four-year colleges and universities experienced a deficit of $6.6 billion when adjusting for inflation, leading to rising prices for students and families.

Among the recommendations from the report is to make state financial aid available to students attending postsecondary institutions less than full time.

While the publication does not address program length, another option for increasing access for learners is to expand Pell grants to cover the costs of high-quality, short-term education programs to help more Americans earn credentials, enter the workforce or begin new careers. These programs are offered by postsecondary institutions, can be for-credit and non-credit, are in demand and can lead to high-skill, high-wage careers. Click here to learn more.

Guided Pathways Practices and Early Academic Success in Three States: A recently published Community College Research Center study examined the guided pathway practices of 62 community and technical colleges across Tennessee, Ohio and Washington to explore whether the implementation of guided pathways is associated with improvements in student outcomes. The study found that in the four years after statewide adoption, Tennessee students earned between 1.6 and 4.6 more college-level credits.

More findings from each state below:

• CTE program maps are associated with an increase in fall-to-fall persistence rates (OH), college-level math credits earned in the first year (OH), and college-level STEM credits earned in the first year (WA).
• Program-specific math sequences, mandatory advising and progress monitoring are positively associated with college-level math credits earned in the first year (OH).
• Practices related to helping students get on a program path are positively associated with fall-to-fall persistence (WA).
• Practices that organize paths to student goals and keep students on a path to completion are associated with improved credit attainment (TN).

This week, activity in Congress related to CTE was light, but there was news in the House on the FY 2025 appropriations process. The Administration has released several grants to help fund new job training opportunities, as well as hosted events and released new tools.  Keep reading for more details! 

• Update on FY 2025 Appropriations: House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) laid out his timeline for FY 2025 appropriations bills, noting that the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill is tentatively scheduled to come before the subcommittee on June 28 and before the full committee on July 10. The allocation for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill will be $184,564,000, which represents a cut of approximately 11 percent compared to FY 2024, which will make it very difficult for any education or workforce development programs to gain needed increases, and even maintaining funding will be challenging. Read more on the CTE Policy Watch Blog. 
• Commerce Department Announces Workforce Policy Agenda: On May 14, the Department of Commerce announced a Department Administrative Order (DAO) to establish a workforce policy agenda focused on preparing the workforce with the skills necessary to accelerate the development and deployment of emerging technologies. Read more on the CTE Policy Watch Blog.
• Biden Administration Announces AI Principles for Worker Well-Being: The Department of Labor announced a new set of principles that provide employers and developers that create and deploy artificial intelligence with guidance for designing and implementing these emerging technologies in ways that enhance job quality and protect workers’ rights. 
• Department of Labor Announces $35M in Funding for Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs: The Department of Labor announced approximately $35 million in funding through the second round of Building Pathways to Infrastructure Job grants, which are intended to prepare workers for jobs created by the Biden Administration’s “Investing in America” agenda.  
• Department of Labor Announces $40M Available in Grants to Improve Access to Good Jobs for Underserved Youth: The Department of Labor announced up to $40 million in grants available for national out-of-school time organizations to expand local work-based learning opportunities, job training and career pathways for underserved youth during non-school hours.  
• Department of Labor Announces Additional Funding to Improve Job Quality, Expand Access to Good Jobs in Critical Industries: The U.S. Department of Labor announced $12 million in funds to improve job quality and increase the availability of good jobs in critical industries, including an emphasis on training provided for jobs in the care economy such as home, elder and childcare. This is the second round of Critical Sectors Job Quality grants.  
• American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI): Challenges and Opportunities for Expanding Registered Apprenticeship with WIOA: The Department of Labor released a brief, exploring the use of WIOA funding to support registered apprenticeships through American Job Centers.  
• White House Hosts “Every Day Counts” Summit on Absenteeism: This week, the White House and Department of Education hosted a summit to address chronic absenteeism and student engagement. The event featured education leaders and local lawmakers as they discussed ways to counter absenteeism. 
• The Office of Educational Technology Released their National Educational Technology Plan: The Department of Education released the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan, designed to address three key divides limiting the potential of educational technology to support teaching and learning. 

In late 2022, Advance CTE, who holds the registered trademark for the current 16 national Career Clusters^®, embarked on an extensive initiative to update and revise the National Career Clusters Framework to reflect the modern workforce.

As the revision process progresses, Advance CTE recently announced that they will be hosting a webinar on June 6 to provide a “first look” at a draft revised Framework. If you are interested in attending to learn more, you can register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WHN6-w-JQGWeQVi6BwiZnQ#/registration.

In addition, after the webinar, a National Validation Survey will be distributed to allow detailed feedback on the draft Framework. You can sign up for an invitation to participate in the survey, as well as to receive other updates, at https://careertech.org/contact-us/.

More information on the Career Clusters revision process, including progress to date, fact sheets, frequently asked questions and more can be found at https://careertech.org/what-we-do/career-clusters/advancing-the-framework/.

Several recent articles have highlighted the growing interest among “Gen Z” youth and young adults in CTE-related careers. Generation Z is generally used to refer to individuals born roughly between 1997 and 2012 (with some debate on specifics), so currently covers individuals from middle school through young adulthood – many of whom are choosing to enroll in CTE programs.  

The coverage of the changing interests of this generation emphasizes that there are significant labor shortages in skilled trades, including fields such as manufacturing, welding and construction. While many have debated how to fill these gaps and solve this issue, Generation Z has been showing an increased interest and participation in skilled trades programs and migrating away from four-year pathways.  

Data is starting to support this trend as well. Enrollment in community colleges with a high CTE-program focus increased 16% from 2022 to 2023, as noted by the National Student Clearinghouse. In addition to this, 54% of Gen Z surveyed by New America have stated they believe a high school diploma is enough to secure a sustainable and lasting job upon completion. While in most cases, some postsecondary education is actually needed for careers with family-sustaining wages, this exemplifies the perception of today’s students. This shift is not only evident in how Gen Z pursues education, but even in the labor market in fields such as carpentry and HVAC maintenance, where Axios suggests that the median age of workers is younger than it has been in past decades.  

The rising costs of postsecondary education, impact of the pandemic, rising student loan debt and high wages for many skilled trade workers are all mentioned as potential contributors to this shift.  

In a podcast recorded for the Wall Street Journal, reporter Te-Ping Chen noted that some of the primary reasons that younger people might be gravitating toward skilled trades are compensation and security. Wages in the skilled trades are increasing; the median pay for new hires in the construction industry is around $48,000 compared to $39,000 for new hires in professional services.  

Additionally, student loan debt has been a nationwide conversation of late, given the efforts of the Biden Administration to pass legislation to offer borrowers forgiveness of up to $20,000. This was followed by a new proposed forgiveness plan after the Supreme Court rejected the original proposal. The new student loan forgiveness plan would only apply to borrowers who entered repayment 20-25 years ago, but the conversation has elevated discourse in this area and gotten the attention of Gen Z learners. CTE programs and career training pathways such as apprenticeships often leave students with substantially less student debt, making it financially attractive for youth just beginning their careers. 

Chen, alongside NPR contributor Windsor Johnston, also pointed out that there is much less concern with skilled trades professions being compromised by evolving technology such as AI. Rather, new technologies are introduced in these fields to increase appeal toward younger generations.  

Gen Z is gravitating toward the skilled trades at a rate that will significantly impact the future of these industries as the demographics of workers shift, and as the nature and public perception of these jobs evolve as well. The perception shift also has the potential to significantly impact CTE program enrollment and demand, and policymakers will need to ensure the education and workforce systems have the capacity to meet the needs of all students.  

Each year, members in both chambers lead “Dear Colleague” letters that are sent to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee in both the House and Senate requesting robust funding for the Perkins Basic State Grant. This year’s letters were led by Reps. G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) in the House as well as Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in the Senate. A total of 40 senators and 71 members of the House signed these letters. 

Additionally, ACTE in coordination with Advance CTE recently sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership requesting an $82 million increase to Perkins for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The letter in part states, “adjusted for inflation, current levels of investment for this program are roughly half of the amount of the federal investment made in CTE in 1980. It is imperative that Congress begin to close this $1.3 billion gap in funding for CTE given significant new demand for skilled talent driven, in part, by new investments authorized by Congress in advanced manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and other sectors of our shared economy.”   

House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) also laid out his timeline for FY 2025 appropriations bills this week. The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill is tentatively scheduled to come before the subcommittee on June 28 and before the full committee on July 10.  He also announced the subcommittee allocations for each bill. The allocation for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education our bill will be $184,564,000. That represents a cut of approximately 11 percent compared to FY 2024, which will make it very difficult for any education or workforce development programs to gain needed increases, and even maintaining funding will be challenging. 

ACTE is closely monitoring developments in the appropriations process, and we will keep you updated so that you can continue to advocate for the highest possible levels of CTE spending within this budget environment. Please let us know if you have any questions! 

On May 14, the Department of Commerce announced a Department Administrative Order (DAO) to establish a workforce policy agenda focused on preparing the workforce with the skills necessary to accelerate the development and deployment of emerging technologies. Historically, the Departments of Education and Labor have been the federal agencies most focused on workforce education, but recent investments, particularly in the CHIPS and Science Act, that are administered by the Department of Commerce, have brought that agency more to the forefront of our work.  

The DAO lays out a three-part approach to meet employers’ needs: 

1. Invest in employer-driven education and training systems.  
2. Foster transformative employer practices.   
3. Produce timely data to help Americans develop and advance. 

The DAO also establishes a Commerce Workforce Council to develop and implement the Department’s workforce policy, programs and initiatives and coordinate with other federal agencies. 

In a statement, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, “The diversity of our workforce is our greatest asset, and to make our country even more competitive, we can’t have any Americans stuck in the margins of our economy. The order I’m announcing today highlights how the Department of Commerce is investing more than $1.6 billion in our workforce and the support services needed to upskill and connect workers with family sustaining jobs in their communities in key industries that will keep the United States at the forefront of our 21st-century economy.” 

This week, Congress held several hearings to review priorities and budget goals for the Departments of Labor and Education, welcoming testimony from both Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. Congress also held two hearings to address occurrences of antisemitism and other instances of discrimination on college campuses. The Administration has continued to work on other long-term projects, including FAFSA, and celebrated the Department of Labor’s first National Youth Apprenticeship Week. 

• Cardona Testifies at Education and Workforce Committee Hearing: Earlier this week, Secretary Cardona testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in a hearing, “Examining the Education Department’s Policies, Priorities, and Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Financial Audit Failure.” Lawmakers discussed FAFSA and issues of free speech and civil liberties on college campuses. House CTE Caucus co-chair, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, and several other Members also raised questions related to CTE.   
• Su Testifies at Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing: Secretary Su testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations to discuss the President’s FY 2025 budget request as it pertains to the subcommittee. CTE Caucus co-chair Senator Baldwin voiced her support for Registered Apprenticeship programs, and Senator Capito, also on the Senate CTE Caucus, expressed her concern over the proposed regulations on Registered Apprenticeship programs. 
• Bipartisan Committee Leaders in Senate and House Raise Concerns Over Rollout of Next Year’s FAFSA: Bipartisan committee leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives urged the Department of Education to prioritize the timely rollout of the 2025-2026 FAFSA form. This follows a tumultuous FAFSA rollout in December and many difficulties for students and financial aid offices since. 
• Department of Education Announces 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars in CTE: Secretary Cardona announced the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors, 20 of which are students in CTE programs, for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.  
• Department of Education Launches Next Phase of FAFSA Support Strategy: The Department of Education announced additional steps to support students and their families with the Better FAFSA. The Department is launching a multi-million-dollar program as part of the FAFSA Student Support Strategy to help school districts, state, nonprofits and other public and private organizations with efforts to boost FAFSA completion. 
• New Apprenticeship Expansion Resources: The Department of Labor has released new resources on apprenticeship programs, addressing state leadership and policy, development and support of programs, diverse apprentice pipelines and alignment with career pathways and postsecondary education. 
• Department of Education Issues New Guidance on Civil Rights Responsibilities: In light of current events, earlier this week the Department issued a Dear Colleague letter to school leaders containing examples of how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should be applied in schools. The letter contains guidance for schools related to allegations of discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.