ACTE Announces 2023 National Award Winners

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 5, 2022

Contact: Jori Houck — jhouck@acteonline.org (ACTE)

 

ACTE Announces 2023 National Award Winners

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced its 2023 national winners in eight different award categories. Winners were announced for Teacher of the Year, Postsecondary Professional of the Year, Administrator of the Year, New Teacher of the Year, Teacher Educator of the Year, Counseling and Career Development Professional Award, Lifetime Achievement and Carl Perkins Community Service Awards.

Teacher of the Year

Barbara Comer – Shenandoah, VA

Postsecondary Professional of the Year

 James Egenrieder – Falls Church, VA

Administrator of the Year

Jenny Geno – Saginaw, MI

New Teacher of the Year

Sammi Jo Sims – Ellensburg, WA

Teacher Educator of the Year

 Lindsey Criss – Burlington, NC

Counseling and Career Development Professional Award

Angela Sparks – Marietta, GA

Lifetime Achievement

Lisa Stange – Clive, IA

Carl Perkins Community Service Award

Linda Romano – Newburgh, NY

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About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

Hormel Foundation Named ACTE Business-Education Partnership Award Winner

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2022

Contacts:
Dominique Frascoia
dfrascoia@acteonline.org

 

Hormel Foundation Named ACTE Business-Education Partnership Award Winner

 

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and its Board of Directors is pleased to announce The Hormel Foundation as the ACTE Business-Education Partnership Award Winner. The Business-Education Partnership Award celebrates the contributions and achievements of schools and businesses that aid in the development and maintenance of partnerships supporting high-quality career and technical education (CTE).

 

The Hormel Foundation launched The Hormel Foundation Austin Assurance Scholarship program in 2019. Since its inception 545 students have received the scholarship which is a partnership between Riverland Community College and Austin High School and Pacelli Catholic High School in Austin, Minnesota.  The scholarship provides 2 years of community college education to qualifying graduates of these two high schools at Riverland Community College.  The gap scholarship removes the financial barrier for students attaining higher education and is intended to encourage underserved populations to continue their education.  Of scholarship recipients 67% are first generation college students and 56% are PELL financial aid eligible, meaning that students have a high level of financial need, and 49% of students are BIPOC. The scholarship is helping to train the future workforce of our region and help students reach their educational and career goals for themselves and in support of their families.

 

The Hormel Foundation has also been instrumental in support the Agriculture and Food Science programs at Riverland Community College. Before THF (The Hormel Foundation) support was received, there were no on-campus Ag or Food Science programs at Riverland other than the FBM program, despite Ag being one of the largest industries in the region and across the state with more than 500,000 people working in ag or food science. Students wanting to major in Ag or Food Science had no options at Riverland and would have to travel to distant colleges to pursue a degree. With early support and encouragement from The Hormel Foundation, Riverland created new degrees in Agricultural and Food Science Technology and received approval from the State of Minnesota to again offer majors in Ag and Food Science. The first courses were launched in 2016 with just a few students. Enrollment in the Ag and Food Science programs has grown to 51 students in fall 2020 and another 450+ students in the Farm Business Management program which covers all of southeast Minnesota to the Mississippi River. The Hormel Foundation has provided more than $2.5 million dollars to the college to create the world-class agriculture academic center at the Austin West Building which includes labs, classrooms, and collaborative working and learning spaces. The Hormel Foundation is currently beginning a partnership with the University of Minnesota and Riverland Community College to develop the Future of Agriculture in America Research in Minnesota that includes a $250 million state-of-the-art research facility located in Mower County, Minnesota.

 

“We are so grateful for their generous support to help transform the lives of our students, serve our communities, and create a stronger workforce. The Hormel Foundation’s investment in education through The Hormel Foundation Austin Assurance Scholarship and their support of Agriculture and Food Science programs will impact generations of students and will help ensure our local employers will have a highly skilled and capable workforce,” said Riverland President Adenuga Atewologun.

 

The relationship between Riverland Community College and The Hormel Foundation is the pinnacle of a business and industry partner for Riverland Community College. The partnership impacts student success daily in Minnesota.

 

The Hormel Foundation will be recognized alongside other national ACTE award winners on November 30, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. ET, at the annual ACTE Awards Gala. For more information on the Excellence Awards and the Awards Gala, visit http://www.acteonline.org/awards.

 

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About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

Bo Peretto Named ACTE Champion for CTE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2022

Contact:
Dominique Frascoia, ACTE
dfrascoia@acteonline.org

 

Bo Peretto Named ACTE Champion for CTE

 

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the ACTE Champion for CTE: Bo Peretto, Senior Vice President at Daniels Fund in Denver, CO. The ACTE Champion for CTE award recognizes education leaders, business and industry executives, celebrities and thought leaders who support and champion career and technical education (CTE) programs as a vital part of developing a prepared, adaptable and competitive workforce.

Bo Peretto joined the Daniels Fund in January 2006. He leads the integration and preservation of Bill Daniels’ life and legacy throughout the Daniels Fund and all of its activities. Bo stewards the direction, style, and values of Bill Daniels in a manner that advances Bill’s legacy for generations to come. He also oversees the organization’s public meeting space, special events, as well as the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program.

Prior to joining the Daniels Fund, Bo served as Assistant Vice President of Administration at Young Americans Center for Financial Education. In this role, he managed a broad range of the organization’s administrative functions.

Peretto is a currently a board member of Young Americans Center for Financial Education and has served on the boards of the Rose Andom Center, Young Philanthropists Foundation, and Colorado Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.

Peretto is a former member of the DECA chapter at Eaglecrest High School in Aurora, Colorado, and remains committed to DECA today. In 2021 he was a featured speaker at the DECA Chartered Association Management Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. He has a deep understanding of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and is committed to the benefits CTE provides to students, the development of our workforce pipeline, and a strengthening of our workforce as a result of high-quality, relevant, education.

Bo Peretto will be recognized alongside other national ACTE award winners at the Awards Gala on November 30 at 7:00 p.m. For more information on the Excellence Awards and the Awards Gala, visit http://www.acteonline.org/awards.

 

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About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

Maryland Students Win ACTE National Student Trophy Design Contest

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/28/2022

Contact: Dana Lampe
dlampe@acteonline.org

 

Maryland Students Win ACTE National Student Trophy Design Contest
Mount Hebron High School Students Win National Award

 

Alexandria, VA – Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced the team of Carter Carr and Joshua Kadavil from Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City, MD as the national student trophy design contest winner in its seventh annual student trophy design contest. They are taught by Michael Gorleski, an instructor at Mount Hebron High School. The contest is sponsored by ACTE and Stratasys, Ltd., a manufacturer of 3D printers and production systems.

 

The student trophy design contest is a competition for students to design the 3D trophy to be used to award the national winners at the Awards Gala. This year’s gala will be held in on November 30 at 7:00 p.m. PT, all are welcome to attend. Carter and Joshua’s submission was selected by ACTE’s Board of Directors out of entries from students all across the country. In addition to having their design used to create this year’s trophies, Carter and Joshua will receive a $1,000 scholarship and Mount Hebron High School will receive a free one-year lease of a 3D printer, courtesy of Stratasys, Ltd.

 

Carter Carr and Joshua Kadavil are both seniors at Mount Hebron High School. They have been participating in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) academic program since their freshman year. Both have a passion for STEM and have enjoyed many experiences with their peers and teachers in and outside of the classroom, as they are involved in many clubs, such as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Last year, both Carter and Joshua attended the National Conference for FBLA, gaining invaluable experiences within both the business and engineering fields.  Outside of school, they both enjoy a trip to the movies for the latest Marvel film, playing guitar, as well as hanging out with friends and competing in furious ping-pong matches. Both students are open to challenges and new opportunities and wish to make the most of every one and continuing to expand their knowledge. The opportunity to design a trophy allowed them to enjoy the design process with no real limits on their creativity. Looking ahead, both students hope to attend an accredited college and major in electrical engineering in the hopes to continue their journey of learning and changing the world for the better.

 

“The Student Trophy Design Contest has successfully helped promote CTE classrooms across the country for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and more,” said ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson. “Carter and Joshua’s outstanding achievements, and their passion for CTE, are further evidence of the critical role high-quality CTE plays in maintaining and growing America’s role in the global economy. We are very proud of Carter and Joshua and their accomplishments, and we are honored to have them as public ambassadors for all that today’s CTE has to offer.”

 

Jesse Roitenberg, Stratasys Americas Director of Education, shared his thoughts on the contest over the years. “Stratasys is pleased to partner with ACTE to create this contest for the students. It is clear that the educators are doing an outstanding job immersing the students in Additive Manufacturing and Computer Aided Drafting. The trophy entries we have judged over the past 6 years are phenomenally designed and could not be created by any other manufacturing process.”

 

Carter and Joshua, ACTE and Stratasys are available for interviews upon request. Carter and Joshua’s trophy design and headshot (courtesy Carter and Joshua) are attached.

 

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About ACTE: The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

ACTE Announces 2023 National Award Finalists

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UPDATED: October 19, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2022

Contact: Jori Houck — jhouck@acteonline.org (ACTE)

 

ACTE Announces 2023 National Award Finalists

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced its 2023 national finalists in eight different award categories. Finalists were announced for Teacher of the Year, Postsecondary Educator of the Year, Administrator of the Year, New Teacher of the Year, Teacher Educator of the Year, Counseling and Career Development Professional Award, Lifetime Achievement and Carl Perkins Community Service Awards.

The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Gala, an award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on November 30 at 7:00 p.m. The Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Willcox, CareerSafe and Stratasys. For more information about the ACTE Excellence Awards, visit our webpage.

 

Carl Perkins Community Service Award

Linda Romano–Newburgh, NY–Region I

Marie Ann Levett–Savannah, GA–Region II

Jody Heavner–Pittsfield, IL–Region III

Cody W. McPherson–Geary, OK–Region IV

Tony Boehm–Wahpeton, ND–Region V

 

Teacher of the Year Award

Debra Walker–Bladensburg, MD–Region I

Barbara Comer–Shenandoah, VA–Region II

Mary Hoffmann–Sleepy Eye, MN–Region III

Leslie Powell–Durant, OK–Region IV

Geary Page–Saratoga Springs, UT–Region V

 

New Teacher of the Year Award

Michael Refsnider–Willow Grove, PA–Region I

Tara Wolfenbarger Poe–Paris, KY–Region II

Derek Grahn–Breckenridge, MN–Region III

Jenny Marroquin–Siloam Springs, AR–Region IV

Sammi Jo Sims–Ellensburg, WA–Region V

 

Administrator of the Year Award

Jenny Geno–Saginaw, MI–Region I

Cindy Clanton–Carrollton, GA–Region II

Lynne Benson–Vernon Hills, IL–Region III

Joyce McClellan–Tulsa, OK–Region IV

Cindy Arnold–Battle Ground, WA–Region V

 

Teacher Educator of the Year Award

Regina Spruill–Temple Hills, MD–Region I

Lindsey Criss–Burlington, NC–Region II

Jay Solomonson–Normal, IL–Region III

Lucinda Francis–Norman, OK–Region IV

Dr. Dawn Mallette–Fort Collins, CO–Region V

 

Postsecondary Educator of the Year Award

Nicole Clarke–Largo, MD–Region I

Dr. James A. Egenrieder–Falls Church, VA–Region II

Mike Eddy–White Bear Lake, MN–Region III

Nancy Howell–Lawton, OK–Region IV

Eric Knoll–Lincoln, NE–Region V

 

Counseling and Career Development Professional Award

Laura Saline–Howell, MI–Region I

Angela Sparks–Marietta, GA–Region II

Molly Bonnett–Forest Lake, MN–Region III

Misty Bible–Idabel, OK–Region IV

Kellie Meyer–Minot, ND–Region V

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Brenda Dingus Long–Richmond, VA–Region II

Lisa Stange–Clive, IA–Region III

Bobbi Eichhorst–Santa Fe, NM–Region IV

Dan Rood Jr.–Wahpeton, ND–Region V

 

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About ACTE:

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

House Small Business Committee to Hear Testimony from ACTE Member

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 13, 2022

Contact: Jori Houck — jhouck@acteonline.org (ACTE)

 

House Small Business Committee to Hear Testimony from ACTE Member

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The House Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development will hold a hearing titled, “Back to School, Back to Startups: Supporting Youth Apprenticeship, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development,” featuring ACTE Region V Vice President Shani Watkins. The hearing will take place on September 15 at 10:00AM in Washington, DC. 

Watkins will offer testimony on her institution’s support of workforce development efforts and will provide policymakers with details of her experiences with career and technical education (CTE) programs and small business partnerships.  

Shani Watkins currently serves as the director of West Sound Technical Skills Center in Bremerton, Washington. Her CTE experience extends over two decades across secondary and postsecondary levels. Watkins holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Education, and master’s degrees in Business and Marketing Education, Organizational Systems and Business Administration. She is active in her local community, as well as an active member of Washington ACTE and national ACTE leadership. She was named the 2022 ACTE Administrator of the Year in December 2021.

The hearing can be viewed at the link here.

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About ACTE:

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities. 

Iowa Association for Career and Technical Education Unifies with National ACTE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 1, 2022 

Contact: Jori Houck — jhouck@acteonline.org (ACTE)

  

Iowa Association for Career and Technical Education Unifies with National ACTE

  

Alexandria, VA — The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is pleased to announce that the Iowa Association for Career and Technical Education (Iowa ACTE) has formally unified with the national Association. Spearheaded by the leadership of Iowa ACTE President Greg Krawiec, the Iowa ACTE Board of Directors and Iowa ACTE Executive Director Sandy Miller, the state association is now officially unified with the national body. Benefiting from this move is both career and technical education (CTE) professionals in Iowa and ACTE’s national membership at large.

Following the unification, Iowa ACTE members can now simultaneously join both their state and national professional membership associations. Additionally, Iowa ACTE and its members have access to the national association’s extensive professional development resources, federal public policy advocacy and leadership opportunities. Iowa ACTE will also benefit from a variety of organizational resources and association management services, ranging from online membership processing to electronic communications tools. From ACTE’s perspective, the unification will improve the national Association’s connections with CTE stakeholders in Iowa, simultaneously providing Iowa ACTE members with greater input in ACTE’s federal policy advocacy.

“ACTE’s Board of Directors and I are excited to expand our connections in Iowa and work closely with our friends at Iowa ACTE and their members,” said ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson. “Working together, ACTE, Iowa ACTE, and our partners in states all across the country can increase access to and students’ success in high-quality CTE programs. We are grateful to the Iowa ACTE Board of Directors and all who made this unification possible.”

“On behalf of Iowa ACTE members, we are excited to unify with ACTE,” Krawiec and Miller commented. “Aligning with the national association will open an array of benefits that will empower our state educators to grow professionally, become leaders within their areas of expertise, and be further positioned to create career success for each student we serve. During this time of importance for CTE, it is imperative for all levels of education along with public and private entities to partner and collaborate in a purposeful manner. This relationship allows Iowa to fully engage in this process.”

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About Advance CTE

Advance CTE is the longest-standing national non-profit that represents State Directors and state leaders responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult Career Technical Education (CTE) across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Established in 1920, Advance CTE supports visionary state leadership, cultivates best practices and speaks with a collective voice to advance high-quality CTE policies, programs and pathways that ensure career success for each learner.

About ACTE

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

ACTE Public Policy logo

ACTE, Advance CTE Applaud Confirmation of Dr. Amy Loyd as OCTAE Assistant Secretary

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2022
Contact: Jori Houck — jhouck@acteonline.org (ACTE)
Stacy Whitehouse — swhitehouse@careertech.org (Advance CTE)

ACTE, Advance CTE Applaud Confirmation of Dr. Amy Loyd as OCTAE Assistant Secretary

 

Alexandria, VA— Today, ACTE and Advance CTE released the following statement following the Senate confirmation of Dr. Amy Loyd to serve as Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE). The statement can be attributed to LeAnn Wilson, Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and Kimberly Green, Executive Director of Advance CTE: 

“As key legislation and funding negotiations with implications for Career Technical Education (CTE) and workforce development persist in Congress, it is crucial for leaders at the intersection of education and work to have a seat at the table. Dr. Loyd’s confirmation as OCTAE Assistant Secretary provides the field with an exceptional advocate for equitable access to high-quality CTE and an experienced leader with a deep understanding of not only the needs of local, regional and state CTE leaders, but also historically marginalized communities through her work at JFF and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council in Alaska. Her leadership at OCTAE will be instrumental in preparing our nation’s workforce to obtain and advance in high-skill, high-wage and in-demand careers. We congratulate Assistant Secretary Loyd on her confirmation, and look forward to working with her to ensure federal policy fully leverages CTE programs and career pathways as high-quality, equitable avenues for each learner to achieve success in the jobs of the future.”

 

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About Advance CTE 

Advance CTE is the longest-standing national non-profit that represents State Directors and state leaders responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult Career Technical Education (CTE) across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Established in 1920, Advance CTE supports visionary state leadership, cultivates best practices and speaks with a collective voice to advance high-quality CTE policies, programs and pathways that ensure career success for each learner. 

About ACTE

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

ACTE Announces the 2022 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Fellows

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 30, 2022

Contact: Jori Houck, jhouck@acteonline.org

ACTE Announces the 2022 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Fellows

Alexandria, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced its fourth class of Fellows for its 2022 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Program, sponsored by ECMC Foundation and powered by ACTE (formerly known as the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – sponsored by ECMC Foundation). Seventeen fellows were selected for the 2022-2023 cohort. The NextLevel Fellowship provides professional and career growth opportunities to the next generation of leaders in postsecondary CTE programs through a nationally-recognized program that is engaging, individualized, and memorable.

The 2022-2023 cohort includes the following fellows. Individual press releases describing the fellows’ biographies can be accessed by clicking on their names below:

This is ACTE’s fourth cohort of postsecondary CTE professionals in leadership development activities. Through this program, fellows build their leadership abilities as they work alongside peer professionals and an experienced mentor in this year-long professional development experience. Fellows also elevate their interpersonal skills and capacity to communicate, collaborate, network, problem solve and use time and resources effectively. The core capstone project is to identify a professional objective to address in each fellows’ institution and carry it out to realize a lasting impact. This program is intended to develop the organizational leadership and management skills of postsecondary CTE professionals, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of underserved populations. The NextLevel Fellowship also includes a research study to help determine what efforts best contribute to leadership development among postsecondary CTE professionals and the creation of resources that can be widely distributed to support others in the field.

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About ACTE

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

 

About ECMC Foundation

ECMC Foundation is a Los Angeles-based, nationally focused foundation whose mission is to inspire and to facilitate improvements that affect educational outcomes—especially among underserved populations—through evidence-based innovation. It is one of several affiliates under the ECMC Group enterprise based in Minneapolis. ECMC Foundation makes investments in two focus areas: College Success and Career Readiness; and uses a spectrum of funding structures, including strategic grantmaking and program-related investments, to invest in both nonprofit and for-profit ventures. Working with grantees, partners and peers, ECMC Foundation’s vision is for all learners to unlock their fullest potential. Learn more about ECMC Foundation by visiting ecmcfoundation.org and ECMC Group by visiting ecmcgroup.org.

 

Joint Statement from ACTE, Advance CTE on Career and Technical Education in FY 2023 Presidential Budget Proposal

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Alexandria, VA—Today, President Biden unveiled his Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request, which proposes a decrease of $25 million in foundational support for career and technical education (CTE) programs provided by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act’s (Perkins V) Basic State Grant program. While we understand that the circumstances surrounding the publication of this budget were less than ideal and occurred before the final Congressional passage of FY 2022 appropriations, even simply maintaining existing levels of funding for this program will shortchange learners across the country and reduce access to high-quality CTE programming.

We appreciate and share the Administration’s interest in promoting innovative CTE programs. However, the suggested $200 million in new funding for the creation of a competitive grant program as part of the Perkins National Activities account will only benefit a small subset of communities throughout the nation, leaving other communities without the resources necessary to meet the needs of learners and employers. For instance, the U.S. Department of Education’s budget materials note that only 32 grants would be funded as part of this $200 million initiative. Distributing finite resources for CTE in this manner, which requires substantial grant application writing capacity, will only exacerbate longstanding inequities, rather than addressing them head-on.

Moreover, many of the activities envisioned as part of this proposal are already allowable uses of funds for Perkins V’s Basic State Grant program which is intended to improve the quality of all CTE programs and systems. At a time when skilled talent is needed more than ever before, the FY 2023 budget and appropriations process serves as a crucial opportunity to fully invest in our nation’s CTE capacity rather than providing inequitable support through the creation of a new competitive grant program.

As we continue to navigate economic and workforce challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we need high-quality CTE programs in every community in the nation. The basic state grant is the investment that provides a baseline of funding for high-quality secondary, postsecondary and adult CTE programs across the country. Without adequate levels of funding, the systemic ability of CTE to equitably meet the needs of learners around the country is diminished. Underinvesting in CTE, as proposed here, will not keep pace with growing instructional costs or the complex demands of the labor market.

ACTE and Advance CTE look forward to working with partners in Congress to secure an increase in Perkins funding that is more reflective of the needs of the CTE community and ensures that CTE can continue to serve as a critical part of our economic recovery and meet urgent workforce needs. Significant new funding is needed to help remedy the historic underinvestment in CTE and ensure each learner has equitable opportunities to access and be successful in the high-quality CTE program of their choice.

 

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About Advance CTE

Advance CTE is the longest-standing national non-profit that represents State Directors and state leaders responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult Career Technical Education (CTE) across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Established in 1920, Advance CTE supports visionary state leadership, cultivates best practices and speaks with a collective voice to advance high-quality CTE policies, programs and pathways that ensure career success for each learner.

About ACTE

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.