ACTE Statement on Secretary Duncan’s Resignation

The Association for Career and Technical Education extends our best wishes to Education Secretary Arne Duncan who announced earlier today that he will be leaving the Obama Administration at the end of the year.

During the Secretary’s tenure, career and technical education (CTE) has received increased attention from within the White House and federal agencies. Policymakers, employers, parents and other advocates continue to cite the importance of CTE as a way to provide greater relevance to student learning and a better opportunity for sustainable careers for both students and adults.

We appreciate the Secretary’s work to expand the conversation in this arena and the opportunities he has taken to highlight CTE in both secondary and postsecondary contexts. The CTE community is awaiting the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and we urge new leaders to provide continued recognition and increased support to sustain and expand the CTE system within the United States.
We look forward to working with Deputy Secretary John B. King Jr. who has been chosen by President Obama to assume the role of Secretary of Education upon Secretary Duncan’s departure.