This week in Washington was another quiet one for CTE-related policy items with lawmakers now adjourned until after the November midterm elections. Lawmakers are expected to continue work on fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations packages and a potential tax bill negotiation during the “lame-duck” congressional session after November 8. This is a great time to review our advocacy toolkit resources and equip yourself with the tools you need to effectively advocate for CTE with policymakers, your community, the media and other stakeholders. We will soon have a new crop of legislators for the 118th Congress, which presents an opportunity to inform them about CTE and encourage their support! We will be covering the election and what it means for CTE over the next few weeks.  In the meantime, ACTE will keep you updated on any key developments. Here are some news and notes:

• Illinois ACTE Media Tour Makes Stops in Carbondale, Harrisburg: On October 4, Illinois ACTE and ACTE visited Carbondale Community High School CTE programs and postsecondary CTE programs offered through Southeastern Illinois College. Across both tour stops, guests viewed several cutting-edge CTE programs. Read more from the visits here.

• Illinois ACTE, ACTE Tour O’Fallon Township High School and Belleville CTE Programs: On October 3, ACTE and Illinois ACTE conducted a site visit to three southern Illinois secondary institutions that have demonstrated exemplary commitments to supporting CTE in their schools. Read more about the first day of the tour here.

• Department of Labor Announces Funding to Support Nursing Workforce: The Nursing Expansion Grant Program will support nursing training programs designed to expand the pipeline of nursing professionals while advancing equity and creating pathways for workers to fill these jobs and improve the nation’s healthcare system. The funding application is available here. Read more about the grants here.

• School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program (SBMH) Now Accepting Applications: The Department of Education SBMH grant program provides competitive grants to state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and consortia of LEAs to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health service providers delivering school-based mental health services to students in LEAs with demonstrated need. This grant program provides $144 million each year for 5 years. Two technical assistance webinars for prospective applicants will be provided: one on October 11th, 2022, and one on October 19th, 2022. The application will close on November 3, 2022.

• Jill Biden Visit to Tacoma Technical College: On October 6, First Lady Jill Biden visited Bates Technical College in Tacoma, Washington to highlight the college’s workforce development programs and emphasize the need to invest in workforce training. You can read more about the visit here.

Today, ACTE released an update to its “What is a Credential?” fact sheet to help CTE supporters define and distinguish between different types of commonly awarded credentials.

The sheet describes different types of credentials and provides a chart that enables users to see the differences and similarities between credentials at a glance. Additionally, the fact sheet discusses other important terms relevant to the credential landscape such as recognized postsecondary credentials and non-degree credentials.

We encourage ACTE members and CTE advocates to share this resource with students and families, education and workforce leaders, and policymakers to improve the public’s understanding of the types of credentials offered by CTE.

Graduate Earnings: The Texas Public Policy Foundation analyzed recent program-level data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard to identify the median annual earnings of postsecondary students three years after graduation, mainly for those who graduated during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years. The following are some of the report’s key findings:

• Annual earnings for undergraduate certificate and associate degree holders were $25,273 and $34,123, respectively, compared to $46,865 for bachelor’s degree holders.
• Associate degree holders’ earnings were greater than bachelor’s degree holders’ in some states, including Alabama, Montana and North Dakota.
• Among the most popular programs on the associate degree level, the top-earning programs included electromechanical instrumentation, nursing, industrial production, dental support and electrical transmission installation, with annual earnings for some reaching over $60,000.
• Among the most popular programs on the associate degree level, electromechanical instrumentation, industrial production and vehicle maintenance experienced the largest growth in earnings, with increases of more than $6,000 over the three years after graduation.

Federal Student Aid: In August, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators released their annual report on postsecondary student aid. The report reviews the most recent statistics available for each federal aid program, including the average amount awarded, the percentage of recipients by institution type and federal appropriations. One key finding from the report is that during the 2019-20 award year, 29% of Pell grant recipients, 26% of Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program recipients, and 12% of Federal Work-study recipients were enrolled at public two-year institutions. You can read more in-depth findings from the report here.

Postsecondary Education Perceptions: New America recently published results from their sixth annual nationally representative survey on postsecondary education. For the 2022 edition, researchers surveyed adults over the age of 18 about their perceptions of the value of postsecondary education:

• Since early 2020, the percentage of adults stating that postsecondary institutions are leading the U.S. in a positive direction declined from 69% to 55%.
• About 73% of adults believe that a postsecondary credential is needed to ensure financial security and 76% say that postsecondary education is a good return on investment.
• Out of all postsecondary education institutions, most adults stated that community colleges contribute to a strong workforce.

Postsecondary Enrollment: A recent research study conducted by HCM Strategists and Edge Research on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, surveyed between January and April 2022 high school graduates aged 18 to 30 who decided not to enroll in postsecondary education or stopped out of a two-year or four-year program. As postsecondary enrollment drops nationwide, the findings from this survey aim to determine why individuals are choosing not to attend or complete their education:

• About 46% of respondents plan on enrolling in or returning to postsecondary education, 41% are unsure and 13% don’t plan on going.
• Respondents had experience with or are currently pursuing other educational options, with the most popular choices being YouTube online courses as well as courses that lead to licenses and certificates.
• The most valued educational opportunity cited by respondents was on-the-job training. In fact, 70% agreed that on-the-job training is the best path to career advancement.
• Financial constraints, stress, current employment and uncertainty about their career were top reasons for not enrolling or completing their postsecondary education.
• After financial assistance, respondents stated that program flexibility, job counselors and opportunities for real-world, hands-on opportunities would help them complete or get a degree.

Relatedly, Strada Education Network studied the perspectives of individuals who hold an associate degree or less on the possibility of future postsecondary education enrollment. Researchers surveyed respondents between spring 2020 and fall 2021 and followed up with some individuals in spring 2022 to reveal the following:

• In fall 2021, 44% of respondents said they were likely to enroll in postsecondary education, a significant increase from spring 2020, with higher percentages among respondents aged younger than 34, Black respondents and respondents with some college, but no credential.
• According to the follow-up survey, one out of six individuals who were likely to enroll did so.
• Respondents echoed similar opinions as those from the HCM Strategists and Edge Research survey about supports that would help them enroll such as flexibility, financial aid and work-based learning.

On October 4, Illinois ACTE and ACTE visited Carbondale Community High School CTE programs and postsecondary CTE programs offered through Southeastern Illinois College. Across both tour stops, guests viewed several cutting-edge CTE programs.

At Carbondale Community High School, the tour group viewed innovative programs in electrical trades, CNA, broadcast and multimedia, exterior construction, culinary, cooperative education/work-based learning, and the introduction to education course. Hands-on techniques were on display in each class, from shaving patients to crafting a meal for school administrators to be catered by the students. 

Culinary teacher Dana Lipe shared how she seeks to expose students to the realities of working in a career in the culinary and hospitality industries. CNA students in nurse Melanie Nelson’s course all expressed their intention to join the health care workforce. In total, Carbondale offers courses in 10 unique career pathways.

At Southeastern Illinois College, instructors demonstrated wildlife management techniques at the Outdoor Wildlife Management facility, located just off of the main campus in a tract of land used by the college to host several programs. 

In addition to the uniqueness of the wildlife program, students and instructors in the Powersports Maintenance program described theirs as the only one in Illinois and one of the few in the United States that trains students for careers in powersports maintenance. “Powersports” includes jet skis, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and small brush trucks. The program’s motto is “work on the toys that you love.” Local law enforcement also routinely trains at the campus’s fire science, mine safety, firing range, and K-9 unit training station, of which tour guests were treated to an in-depth look. The college also offers a fully-equipped welding and diesel shop on campus.

College officials also discussed their future plans to expand their facilities to serve even more learners across southern Illinois in the coming years. 

The second day of the tour was joined by Carbondale school officials, Carbondale city council members, Southeastern Illinois College instructors and administrators and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) representatives. Photos from the visit are available here.

Voters will head to the polls this November 8 to determine the new makeup of the 118th Congress and state governments, and to weigh in on ballot initiatives. At the federal level, all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats will be on the ballot, while 39 state and territory gubernatorial elections and numerous state legislative seats will be contested.  

With federal reauthorizations looming for the Higher Education Act, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, National Apprenticeship Act, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the Farm Bill, and numerous state education and workforce policy discussions at play, these midterm elections will be consequential for education up and down the ballot. This makes it critical for CTE advocates to be informed on key issues and ready to weigh in on election day! Starting today, ACTE will launch its Election Watch 2022 series to keep you abreast of what issues are at stake, who is on the ballot, and how the results of the election might impact CTE in the next Congress.  

To check your voter registration, register to vote, or to learn more about your state’s voting policies, visit Nonprofit Vote.  

On October 3, ACTE and Illinois ACTE conducted a site visit to three southern Illinois secondary institutions that have demonstrated exemplary commitments to supporting CTE in their schools.

The first stop of the day was O’Fallon Township High School in O’Fallon, Illinois. The visiting officials first attended a presentation and roundtable discussion about the workforce needs of southern Illinois businesses and industries. They highlighted a few of the region’s top industries:

• Health care 
• Military/defense activities 
• Retail 
• Tourism
• Recreation

Following the presentation, the group had the opportunity to visit several O’Fallon CTE programs. The tour first viewed a fully operational television studio and production facility housed in O’Fallon’s broadcast production and social media department. This studio provides students with the complete experience of a modern newsroom. Next, in the early childhood program, students were taking care of lifelike infants to simulate the care and attention to detail required of early childhood education professionals. Finally, students participating in drafting and engineering courses were utilizing spacious facilities with brand-new table saws, lathes, drafting tables, welding booths and more to learn in-demand skills.

Our second and third stops of the day included Belleville District 201’s Center for Academic and Vocational Excellence (CAVE) and the Belleville West High School campus.

The “CAVE,” as it is affectionately known to students, faculty and the community, hosts students from Belleville East High School and Belleville West High School. The innovative building, a former gym site, was completed on August 16, 2022, and opened for students and faculty the very next day. Belleville officials described the strong support of the community for the eventual completion of the project. The visiting group was treated to a lunch prepared by advanced culinary students. Additionally, tour guests were escorted through the state-of-the-art welding, construction and automotive facilities, which are designed to ensure students at the CAVE will be able to develop their skills utilizing up-to-date, industry standard equipment. The facility is also home to athletic facilities for Belleville schools, including indoor basketball, tennis and a driving range. An esports computer lab is a can’t-miss sight when visitors walk in the door!

Work-based learning students at the CAVE spoke with the tour attendees about their experiences with CTE. Each student expressed their desire to learn skills using hands-on methods and added that they are all employed by a local industry partner in an apprenticeship program, which CAVE officials said is crucial to successful CTE programs.

At Belleville West, the tour visited the health care program, where students demonstrated their knowledge of basic medical terminology and concepts. At the end of the program, they will be well on their way to pursuing a career in the healthcare field. Just outside of the building were students enrolled in the school’s landscaping course, where they were creating a stone fence.

Several local officials joined all three stops on Monday. Those in attendance included State Rep. LaToya Greenwood of the 114th Assembly District; Brooke Allen of State Rep. Jay Hoffman’s office; State Senator Christopher Belt of the 57th Senate district; Weston White of the Leadership Council of Southern Illinois; Lee Reese, St. Clair County Workforce Coordinator; and Christine Taylor, College and Career Pathway Endorsement Coordinator for Southwestern Illinois CTE System and Madison County CTE System.

The tour continued October 4 – stay tuned for a recap of those visits!

Congress spent last week wrapping up work before adjourning for the elections. Before the House and Senate adjourned, their primary goal was to pass a short-term government spending measure to extend funding beyond the end of the fiscal year on September 30, which you can read more about below. The House also passed legislation to provide additional compensation to support the families of 9/11 victims and the Senate continued negotiations on environmental permitting legislation and potential Electoral College reforms. The House and Senate are both set to return in mid-November to complete the legislative work for the year, which could include a potential tax bill negotiation and fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations bills, which have not been completed. ACTE will be providing timely updates both pre- and post-election to ensure that CTE stakeholders have the information they need to build relationships with members of the incoming 118th Congress and effectively advocate for CTE in the coming months. 

• House and Senate Pass Continuing Resolution to Fund Government: On September 29, the Senate passed a short-term government spending bill, which was then passed by the House on September 30. The President signed the bill into law, extending government funding at current levels through December 16.  

• FAA Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force Holds Final Meeting: On September 22, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Task Force on Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation held its final meeting, during which the task force shared its findings and recommendations for aviation workforce stakeholders. You can watch the full meeting here for more insight into the task force’s work. 

• Senate Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Infrastructure Investments: On September 29, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing on new investments from the CHIPS and Science Act, particularly in the fields of autonomous technology and artificial intelligence. Witnesses from across the academic and business spectrum were present, and workforce development was a key topic of the hearing. 

• NCES Survey on Teacher and Other Vacancies in Public Schools: The Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has released the latest data from the August 2022 School Pulse Panel that found more than half of all public schools “reported feeling understaffed entering the 2022-23 school year.” Of districts with a vacancy, 74% reported a very or somewhat difficult time filling CTE teacher positions.  

• Department of Education Awards Funding to Strengthen the Teacher Pipeline: The Department of Education has announced new awards to further address the teacher shortage and help ensure long-term investments in teacher pipeline and development programs across the country. New investments under the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program include 22 new three-year grants totaling more than $60 million. The SEED program supports evidence-based practices that prioritize educators’ growth across the continuum of their careers.  

• Department of Education Launches Future Finder Challenge: The Department of Education has announced the launch of Stage 1 of the Future Finder Challenge, a $1 million challenge to reimagine career navigation for adult learners. The Department’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) invites innovators to build digital tools that better support adult learners as they launch and advance their careers. Creators must submit prototypes by 6:00 p.m. ET on December 15, 2022. The online submission should outline how the digital tool will be designed to improve adult learners’ career navigation outcomes, such as increased self-awareness, career knowledge, confidence and/or job attainment in high-quality, in-demand occupations and high-growth industries.  

• ACTE and Illinois ACTE Holding Joint Media Tour: ACTE is holding a joint media tour in southern Illinois with Illinois ACTE, where there will be tours of nine CTE programs between Monday, October 3 and Thursday, October 6. The tour includes stops at innovative CTE programs at the secondary and postsecondary level. This program tour will give attendees the chance to learn more about CTE programming at the secondary and postsecondary level and underscore the important role CTE plays in preparing Illinois students for careers of their choice in the 21st century workforce, as well as in supporting the needs of businesses and industries across Illinois. ACTE will have more coverage of the media tour over the coming days.