Federal Legislative Update

Washington’s College- and Career-Readiness Agenda

Brendan Desetti,ACTE Legislative Liaison

CTE’s Voice of the Field– Advocates with Congress, the Department of

Education, Department of Labor and other federal departments and agencies

– Through grassroots efforts, ensures policymakers hear from the CTE community

– Represents CTE in national education dialogue through partnerships with national education policy organizations

– One of the few organizations focused on national public awareness issues pertaining to CTE

Current Political Climate• As we close in on elections, Congress is on

recess putting lawmaking on hold• Only bigger pieces of legislation are moving

with pre-agreed upon arrangements• Funding issues are driving the debate…even

on authorizing issues

Congressional Recess Schedule

Senate Recess House RecessSept. 22-Nov. 11 Sept. 22-Nov. 11Christmas Break? November 21-30

December 13---

Happening Now…• FY 2015 Continuing Resolution (CR)• Reauthorizations– Elementary and Secondary Education Act– Carl D. Perkins CTE Act– E-Rate– Higher Education Act

• Trending Topics– STEM– College- and Career-Readiness– Jobs/skills Gap & Meeting Employer Needs

Education Funding

FY14 Federal Budget Breakdown

Non-Defense Discretionary (minus ED)

14%Medicaid8%

Medicare14%

Social Security23%

Other Mandatory16%

Interest6% Defense

17%

Education2%

Impact of FY13 Sequestration

Total Dep't of

ED

Title I Impact Aid

Teacher Quality

IDEA Grants

CTE Student Aid

Higher Ed

Head Start

-$2,500

-$2,000

-$1,500

-$1,000

-$500

$0

(in millions)

-$2,478

-$727

-$65 -$124

-$620

-$87 -$86 -$129-$401

Sequestration Realities• Education funding cuts were restored on

average 80% in FY14 (Oct. 2013 – 2014)• Title I & IDEA restored ~85-90%• REAP restored 100% (aka 2004 levels)• CTE restored ~91%• FY15 total education funding level from FY14– No room for program funding boosts

President’s FY 15 Budget Request• Total education funding increased by over $1 billion ($69

billion)• Level Funds Perkins State Grants ($1.118 billion)– Does not fully restore to pre-sequester

• National Programs remain at sequester level• Proposes set-aside from Perkins State Grants– $100 million for competitive innovation fund, including $10

million for “Pay-for-Success” projects– Reflects department’s blueprint for reauthorization of Perkins

CTE Act• Proposes new programs to accomplish his goals

FY 15 Appropriations Process• Caps for each of the 12 subcommittees (302(b))– Labor, HHS and Education– Current FY 14: $156.8 billion– House FY 15: $155.7 billion– Senate FY 15: $156.8 billion

• Perkins funding will come from this total• House and Senate Appropriations Committees will

write FY 15 funding bills

FY 15 Appropriations Process• Senate subcommittee markup June 10

– Full bill text finally released in July– Perkins received a $5.4 million increase!

• Full committee markup postponed indefinitely• House never schedule a markup or released a bill

• Congress passed short-term continuing resolution in mid-September

• Will work to pass full-year appropriations package before December

Key FY 2015 Appropriations Messages• Education has taken the brunt of cuts for many

years and we cannot sustain anymore!• Remaining sequestration cuts must be restored!• Support existing, proven programs to

accomplish reform and innovation ideas not new, competitive programs

• Congress must make investing in CTE a top priority to prepare college- and career-ready students

ESEA Reauthorization

113th Congress• Student Success Act (H.R.5)– AASA supports– Significant departure from current law with most

responsibility and decision-making at state and local levels

• Strengthening America’s Schools Act (S.1094)– More of an update to current law– Codifies Race to the Top and i3 programs

ESEA – College & Career Readiness

• Both chambers attempted to bring college and career readiness to the forefront through standards development

• Neither truly capture career readiness• Senate still stuck on “college then career”

readiness• House left most decisions to the state and

local, but no incentivizes for career readiness

ESEA Waivers• Issued in exchange for state developed plans

to raise educational outcomes for all students• Provide relief from AYP & other NCLB

provisions• Intended to be temporary but waivers have

been renewed for additional school year• It’s poor policy but likely to have impact on a

future reauthorization of ESEA

Waivers & Career Readiness• States reinvent accountability for college and

career ready students– Industry-recognized credentials– Technical skill measures– CTE graduation requirements– Extra credit for diploma+

• AK expanded school performance index to include career readiness assessments

Perkins CTE Act Reauthorization

Administration’s CTE Blueprint• CTE Blueprint Released spring 2012• Key themes of: Alignment, Collaboration,

Accountability, Innovation• Concerns related to many aspects, particularly

competitive funding and mandatory consortia grants

• Not getting much positive attention on Hill

House Activity• Subcommittee hearing, 9/20/13• Full Committee hearing, 11/19/13• Field hearing in Las Vegas, 3/18/14• Big focus on industry partnerships,

certifications, and secondary-postsecondary pathways

• Likely to turn to Perkins in next Congress

Senate Activity• No formal activity on Perkins, but possibility

early next Congress depending on control• Senate staff are gathering information• Key themes:– Labor market alignment– Public-private partnerships– Secondary-postsecondary connections– Performance/accountability– Innovation/best practices

ACTE Activities• Now working on specific legislative language

(AASA approved)• Working closely with congressional staff;

particularly Caucus and Committees• Helped form a coalition of groups interested in

the law• Organizing school visits and briefings for Hill

staff, educational briefings for press, etc

ACTE Perkins Guiding Principles1. Redefine the Federal Role in CTE2. Target Expenditures3. Define Program Quality Elements4. Ensure Relevant and Consistent Data5. Offer Incentives for Innovation6. Provide the Infrastructure to Support the

System

E-Rate Program

E-Rate Modifications• FCC voted on program updates in July, which

AASA supported.• Not perfect but is better than initial proposal• Changes of Note:– Funding cap unchanged but some existing funds freed

up for next two years (FCC re-examining funding cap)– Poverty indicator moved from school level to district

level– Rural / Urban status will be determined by Census

Bureau Definitions. Do NOT use Rural Healthy Care.

E-Rate Service Changes

• ‘Priority One and Two’ are now ‘Category One and Two’

• Category 1: – Applicants will be funded before any Category 2– Voice services will phase out over 5 years– Legacy services ineligible effective 2015-16

• Category 2:– Per-pupil cap of $150 over next five years for Wi-Fi

and other services, such as maintenance.

Higher Education Act

Higher Education Act• Senate draft bill poses significant administrative

burden for local school districts• Educator Quality Partnership Grants require

collecting and reporting significant data by LEAs• Educator Prep program requires LEAs to report

job placement rates & student growth rates

Addt’l Areas of Concern

• Unclear and narrow definitions plague the bill:– Rural Low Income School– High Need School– High-Quality Professional Development– Student Growth

• New dual enrollment program is prescriptive– Requires postsecondary faculty teaching courses

in secondary schools

Stakeholder Advocacy

Advocacy Opportunities• Visit Member state offices to meet with staff• Attend a town hall or other event featuring

your member• Op-Eds & Letters to the Editor• Campaign events right now are a great way to

communicate with policymakers & potential policymakers

Host a School Visit• Coordinate a date with your Member to come see

your program.• What is this typically?

• One of the most effective means of driving support• Check out our tips on setting up school visits on our

online Advocacy Toolkit - http://bit.ly/1mLE6Of

o School tour showing off CTE programso Opportunities for the Member to speak

with teachers and studentso Opportunity for Member to speak about

his or her CTE priorities to media, students and teachers

Key Resources• Online Advocacy Toolkit• CTE Action Center• CTE Policy Watch Blog• ACTE News – Policy

Section• Legislative Alerts• Fact Sheets• Issue Briefs/Sheets

New Sector Fact Sheets

Infographics

Contact InformationAssociation for Career and Technical Education

1410 King StreetAlexandria, VA 22314

800-826-9972www.acteonline.org

Brendan Desetti – bdesetti@acteonline.org