Recent changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) and updates to the TEACH Grant program may provide ACTE members with an opportunity to receive PSLF credit for federal student loan payments previously made and enjoy streamlined requirements for the TEACH Grant program.

You may be able to receive credit for student loan payments that did not qualify for PSLF under the previous rules. Now until October 31, 2022, all periods of repayment of your federal student loans will count toward your PSLF eligibility, regardless of whether you hold Direct Loans, Perkins loans or another loan type. If you have federal student loans, this is a great opportunity! Many of those working with and teaching in CTE programs may qualify for the expanded PSLF waiver. Additionally, if you received Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF), that period of service will concurrently count toward (PSLF). There are a few steps you should take to take advantage of these benefits:

If you currently have direct federal loans and have not applied for PSLF:

• Make sure your employer is eligible for PSLF through the PSLF tool. 
• Consolidate your loans, if you wish. 
• Apply for PSLF before October 31, 2022. 

If you have already received credit toward PSLF:

• No further action will be needed, unless the Department of Education contacts you. 

If you were denied from receiving PSLF previously: 

• You will need to submit a new PSLF form to reevaluate your eligibility for PSLF. 

Recent changes to the TEACH Grant program will also mean that borrowers who received these grants will not be subject to the same requirements as in previous years. Specifically, these new changes include:

• Only four complete teaching certifications across the eight-year requirement 
• Expanded fields of eligibility for TEACH recipients  
• Entrance, exit and loan conversion counseling

The Department of Education will also reconsider grant-to-loan conversions, extend the time to meet service, and remove interest and negative reporting.

You do not need to take any action to take advantage of these new TEACH Grant changes.

You can view a recording of a recent webinar explaining these opportunities at the link here. If you have questions about PSLF and/or TEACH Grants, please contact ACTE Government Relations Manager, Zach Curtis, at zcurtis@acteonline.org.

Last week in Washington, lawmakers in both chambers returned to a relatively light September legislative agenda. Lawmakers’ primary focus in the next week or so will include negotiating and passing a stopgap “omnibus” spending bill to avoid a government shutdown after current funding expires on September 30. Members of Congress may also try to insert other provisions into the bill, including aid for Ukraine and COVID-related aid. ACTE will continue to monitor the budget process for fiscal year (FY) 2023 as work continues on those appropriations bills. As we await further CTE-related news, here are some news and notes:

• ACTE Region V Vice President Shani Watkins Testifies Before House Small Business Committee: On September 15, the House Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development, held a hearing titled, “Back to School, Back to Startups: Supporting Youth Apprenticeship, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development,” featuring ACTE Region V Vice President Shani Watkins. During her testimony, Watkins described the CTE programs offered at her school and her varied business partnerships, including how those partnerships provide students with access to paid work-based learning experiences and connections to apprenticeships and future careers. Read more about the hearing here.

• Department of Education Awards Funding to Support and Develop the Educator Workforce: The Department of Education has announced new grant awards to help recruit, prepare, develop and retain a strong, effective and diverse teacher workforce through the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant program. This year’s investment includes 22 new five-year grants totaling $24.8 million. The TQP program funds teacher preparation programs in high-need communities at colleges and universities for the undergraduate and “fifth-year” level, and for teaching residency programs for individuals new to teaching with strong academic and professional backgrounds. Learn more about the grants here.

• White House Issues Executive Order on Biotechnology Workforce: President Biden has issued an executive order to expand training and education opportunities in biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Within 200 days, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education and other relevant agencies shall produce and make publicly available a plan to coordinate and use relevant education and training programs, such as opportunities at technical schools and certificate programs, CTE, and expanded career pathways into existing degree programs for biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Read the full Executive Order here.

• Sen. Luján (D-NM), Reps. Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) Introduce Legislation to Expand Federal Loan Forgiveness for Educators: Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández and Jahana Hayes have introduced the Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2022 to expand the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) program. The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2022 updates the TLF program by expanding the most robust benefits to all teachers and leaders working in high-need schools, including CTE teachers. It also enhances benefits and allows service under this program to concurrently count toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Read more about the bill here.

• House Education and Labor Chairman Introduces College Affordability Legislation: The LOAN Act would lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. The legislation doubles the federal Pell Grant by increasing the max award over 5 years to $13,000, building on the $1,775 increase to the maximum award as proposed in President Biden’s budget; improves the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program by shortening the time to forgiveness and broadly codifying the current PSLF waiver; makes loans less expensive by expanding access to subsidized loans, limiting capitalization of interest including after forbearance and deferment, and creating a safety net for vulnerable borrowers; and lowers interest rates by ensuring that no new loan will have an interest rate higher than 5 percent and allowing both federal and private borrowers to take advantage of these lower rates. Read more about the bill here.

• Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) Shares Thoughts on Higher Education: House Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member Rep. Virginia Foxx shared her thoughts on higher education legislation and the Republican’s Higher Education Act proposal in a recent speech at the American Enterprise Institute. She mentioned an alternate proposal to the JOBS Act and expanding Pell Grants to short-term postsecondary programs, offering “We must change our mentality and recognize there are many paths to the American Dream. The REAL Reforms Act takes the first step towards doing just that. It opens up opportunities to the middle class beyond the traditional college model by expanding the Pell Grant to career-focused credentials offered at a fraction of the cost of that model.”

• Department of Education Names 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools: Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. View the full list here. 

On September 15, the House Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development held a hearing titled, “Back to School, Back to Startups: Supporting Youth Apprenticeship, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development,” featuring ACTE Region V Vice President Shani Watkins.

During her testimony, Watkins described the CTE programs offered at her school and her varied business partnerships, including how those partnerships provide students with access to paid work-based learning experiences and connections to apprenticeships and future careers.

Watkins was asked questions by several members of the subcommittee, including Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Roger Williams (R-TX), about her experiences as the director of West Sound Technical Skills Center in Bremerton, Washington.

Rep. Williams asked how businesses can form partnerships with CTE programs, and how West Sound Technical Skills Center is preparing students for in-demand careers.

“A huge part of that goes back to what parents understand, and what our typical rhetoric has been, which is college for all,” said Watkins. “So, I think a big part of this goes back to exposing students at younger ages to a variety of careers that go beyond what is typically addressed in an academic environment.”

“It’s like a stool with three prongs – [CTE] has government support, it has business support and it has school support.” 

Rep. Crow asked Watkins what barriers students are facing to accessing CTE and work-based learning experiences. 

“First of all, transportation is a huge challenge for us,” observed Watkins. “We are very rural. We have students that travel an hour and a half one way each day to participate in CTE programs with us because they are not offered in their areas, and those students have less access to viable careers in their industries locally.”

“We have a lot of students that have to support their own families, and so that creates a barrier when internship opportunities and work-based learning opportunities are non-paid.” 

The full hearing can be viewed at the link here.

Although the Senate returned to Washington last week, action on CTE-related items was again minimal, with much of the focus on confirming pending nominees and holding hearings. Both chambers will be in session this week, and it is expected that appropriations negotiators will continue work on an “omnibus” agreement to extend government funding beyond September 30 as work continues on Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 spending bills. As we await more from Congress, here are some key news and notes:

• House Small Business Committee to Hold Hearing Featuring ACTE Member: On September 15, at 10:00am ET, the House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing titled “Back to School, Back to Startups: Supporting Youth Apprenticeship, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development.” ACTE Board of Directors member Shani Watkins will be serving as a witness at the hearing. ACTE will have more coverage later this week of her appearance before the committee.

• OCTAE Assistant Secretary Talks CTE at Advance CTE Fireside Chat: On September 6, the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) Assistant Secretary Amy Loyd spoke with Advance CTE Executive Director Kimberly Green as a part of Advance CTE’s Fall Fireside Chat series. You can view a recording of the webinar here.

• House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Juvenile Justice: On September 8, the Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on investments in juvenile justice programs. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) mentioned the Community Healing Initiative, which is a partnership between Latino Network, Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center and other organizations that offers culturally appropriate interventions and workforce development opportunities to youth of color in the juvenile justice system. Naomi Evans of Coalition for Juvenile Justice said that job training with holistic supports is also critical. Witness Father Steven Boes mentioned that his faith-based program, Boys Town, has a workforce development partnership with Union Pacific and trains welders. You can watch the full hearing here.

• Secretary Cardona Announces Back to School Bus Tour: On September 12, First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary Cardona will kick off the bus tour in Tennessee with a visit highlighting ways states and districts are recruiting and preparing qualified educators into the classroom. Read more about the tour here.

• Department of Labor Awards Trade Adjustment Assistance Funding: The Department of Labor has announced funding to provide training and employment services in 45 states and Puerto Rico to eligible workers. The awards are the department’s final distribution of FY 2022 funds to states through the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program. The program supports training, employment and case management services, job search and relocation allowances and income support during training.

• Department of Labor Awards Funding Expand Access to Jobs: The Department of Labor has announced the award of $45 million in grant funding to 13 colleges in 12 states to help expand CTE education programs. The grants will enable institutions to focus on specific industry sectors and career pathways training for skill development, rapid reskilling and employment in in-demand jobs. Read more about the grants here.

Interest In & Exposure to Careers: YouScience released results from their aptitude-based career guidance assessments taken by high school students nationwide in 2021. The analysis found that students have higher aptitude than interest in many career areas, especially those with significant predicted job growth. For example, students had more than three times the aptitude for advanced manufacturing careers than interest and more than two times the aptitude for computer technology careers than interest. The report also revealed the effect of gender stereotypes on interest in careers. For instance, females had a much greater difference between aptitude and interest for advanced manufacturing careers than males. The authors conclude that students need more exposure to a variety of careers to find a match between their talents, interests and goals.

Impacts of Industry-recognized Credentials: A recent study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute examined how completing industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) in high school impacted students’ short-term postsecondary education and employment outcomes. Researchers utilized data from Texas high school students who graduated between 2017 and 2019 to uncover the following:

• IRC completion was weakly associated with a higher likelihood of employment in the short term.
• IRC completion was associated with a 9% increase in annual earnings in the short term, with the largest benefits to students not enrolled in a postsecondary institution and those who completed an IRC in education, cosmetology or transportation.
• IRC completion is positively correlated with postsecondary enrollment and persistence. In fact, students who completed an IRC were 3 percentage points more likely to remain in postsecondary education for a second year.
• The majority of students who completed an IRC were not pursuing education or employment in their IRC field of study.
• While CTE concentrators as well as Hispanic, Asian and higher-achieving students were most likely to earn IRCs, the high school one attended is the most important predictor of earning an IRC.

Labor Market Experiences of Recent Graduates: In May 2022, Cengage Group conducted a survey of respondents who completed a degree or non-degree postsecondary education program within the past 12 months to better understand recent graduates’ perspectives on the labor market. The following are some of the report’s key findings:

• Half of recent graduates had second thoughts about the program they were studying, but felt it was too late to switch, with non-degree graduates experiencing less of this regret.
• Nearly half of recent graduates didn’t apply for entry-level jobs because they felt underqualified, with degree graduates slightly more likely to report this. About 60% of graduates found a job within 12 months in 2022, which is 19 percentage points higher compared to 2021, and degree graduates found jobs quicker than non-degree graduates.
• Almost all graduates said they would pursue online training if their employer covered the cost.
• Roughly 61% of graduates think that employers should stop requiring a two- or four-year degree for many occupations.

Employer Policies & Economic Mobility: Recently, WorkRise released a report that summarizes research on employer policies and how these affect economic security and mobility for individuals who have faced historical exclusion in the labor market. Researchers specifically studied pay, scheduling, leave, hiring, retention, work systems, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) employer policies. Overall, the report found that promising practices for increasing economic mobility exist in compensation, hiring, promotion, scheduling, work systems and DEI policies, without negatively impacting a firm’s performance. However, researchers emphasized that there are gaps and exceptions to these promising practices in research that must be studied further.

On September 6, the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) Assistant Secretary Amy Loyd spoke with Advance CTE Executive Director Kimberly Green as a part of Advance CTE’s Fall Fireside Chat series. This is one of Assistant Secretary Loyd’s first public appearances to discuss CTE since her Senate confirmation in June. OCTAE oversees the Perkins Act and other federal CTE-related initiatives, including community colleges, adult education and literacy, and correctional education.

Assistant Secretary Loyd was asked to discuss the experiences that led her to her current role. She pointed to her Native heritage and her parents’ careers as education professionals as defining factors in her career path. She attended Santa Fe Community College, Northern New Mexico Community College, St. John’s College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she earned her doctorate in educational leadership. Among her professional degrees, she has also earned an EMT certification.

Across her work with Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council in Alaska, Loyd has focused on K-12 education, community colleges, adult education, workforce development, economic development and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Loyd expressed that she hoped to ensure that CTE programs closely reflect the communities that they serve. Further, she also emphasized the need for culturally responsive education and a need to support students through training and wraparound services, especially Alaska Native and Native American communities. Loyd also pointed to her observations of the Swiss apprenticeship model, in which 70% of secondary-school-aged children participate in a hands-on apprenticeship program that culminates in an industry-recognized credential.

When asked what she hoped to achieve by the end of her appointment at the Department of Education, Loyd expressed a desire to align CTE programs and practices with the Biden Administration’s priorities for CTE. ACTE looks forward to continuing our close partnership and work with OCTAE under Assistant Secretary’s Loyd’s leadership.

You can view a recording of the webinar here.

CTE-related action in Washington was minimal last week. This week, Congress is set to return and their to-do list will include starting negotiations on an “omnibus” government funding package that may also contain supplemental funding for Ukraine, COVID-19 preventative measures and more that was requested by the White House. Congress must pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution to extend government funding by September 30 in order to avoid a government shutdown. Here are some other news and notes to catch you up as we Congress returns:

• White House Announces Plan to Address Educator Shortages: On August 31, the White House announced its strategy to help K-12 schools address staffing shortages in teaching and other critical school professions. The Biden Administration plans to work with the private sector, nonprofit organizations and state and local education and workforce leaders to better highlight open positions and expand teacher apprenticeship opportunities. These efforts will be overseen jointly by the Department of Education and Department of Labor. Read more about the White House plan here.

• First Lady, Secretary Walsh, Secretary Raimondo Highlight First Group of Apprenticeship Ambassadors: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden celebrated a milestone at the White House for the Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative, where members of the initial cohort of Apprenticeship Ambassadors discussed steps being taken to expand apprenticeship programs throughout the nation and promote the benefits of registered apprenticeships in numerous industries. Read more about the initiative here.

• Department of Education Awards Funding to Alaska Native Education Programs: The Department of Education has awarded 28 three-year grants totaling $35.3 million through the Alaska Native Education (ANE) program to Alaska Native organizations and entities in Alaska governed predominately by Alaska Natives. Eligible activities include training and professional development for educators, early childhood and parent outreach and enrichment programs. Read more about the awards here.