Political Climate• As we move toward elections, partisanship is

expected to get worse• Only “must-pass” legislation is moving• Funding issues are driving the debate…even on

authorizing issues• Jobs/skills gap are key concerns

Congressional ScheduleSenate Recess House RecessMay 26-30 June 2-6June 30-July 4 June 30-July 4August 4-September 5 August 1-September 5

September 22-26October 3----

Happening Now…• FY 2015 Funding• Reauthorizations• Workforce Investment Act• Carl D. Perkins Act• Higher Education Act• Elementary and Secondary Education Act

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

Federal Perkins Appropriations(in thousands of $)

Program FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 14 v. FY 13

Perkins State Grants

1,123,030 1,064,446 1,117,598 +53,152

CTE National programs

7,829 7,421 7,421 0

FY 15 Appropriations Process• Appropriations request letters for Perkins went to House

and Senate Labor-HHS-ED subcommittees in early April• Called for increase to pre-sequester levels• 94 signers in House and 25 in Senate

• Sec. Duncan testified on Administration’s budget request in April and May• House and Senate Labor-HHS-ED appropriations

subcommittees, House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Senate Budget Committee.• Questioned on budget request for Perkins• Committees were critical of focus on competitive programs

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

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

FY 15 funding bills• Likely occur in mid summer

Key FY 15 Appropriations Messages• Funding for the Perkins is currently more than $140

million lower than in FY 2010• Over 20 states are currently receiving allocations at

or below the level they received in 1998• It is time to build our federal investment in CTE by

supporting increased Perkins funding in FY 2015• Congress must make investing in CTE a top priority

Perkins Reauthorization

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 after WIA

Senate Activity• No formal activity on Perkins, but possibility in

summer• 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• Working closely with congressional staff;

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

law• Organizing school visits for Hill staff, educational

briefings for press, etc

Business Involvement• IBM-led group has been meeting with Hill staff • Released a letter last week with over 200 sigs:

• Align CTE programs to the needs of the regional, state, and local labor market

• Support effective and meaningful collaboration between secondary and postsecondary institutions and employers;

• Increase student participation in experiential learning opportunities such as industry internships, apprenticeships and mentorships; and promote the use of industry-recognized credentials

Partner Groups• NASDCTEc• AASA• NEA• NGA• Business groups – IBM, Chamber, Opportunity

Nation, etc• Ed/Workforce groups – NAPE, NASSP, NAWB,

counseling groups, CTSOs, etc

ACTE Perkins Guiding Principles

1. 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

Program of StudyThe term ‘career and technical education program of study’ is a coordinated, non-duplicative sequence of secondary and postsecondary academic and technical courses that:• incorporate rigorous, state-identified college-and-career readiness

standards that address both academic and technical content;• support attainment of career readiness skills;• progress in content specificity (beginning with all aspects of an industry or

career cluster leading to more occupationally specific instruction);• incorporate multiple entry and exit points with portable demonstrations

of technical competency, which may include credit-transfer agreements or industry-recognized certifications; and

• culminate in the attainment of an industry-recognized certification or license, an apprenticeship or postsecondary certificate, or an associate or baccalaureate degree.

Uses of FundsProvide career exploration and career development activities through an organized, systemic framework designed to aid students, both before and during program of study participation, in making informed plans and decisions about future education and career opportunities and enrollment in career and technical education programs of study, including—• introductory courses or activities focused on career exploration and career

awareness, which may include courses or activities offered before high school;• readily available career and labor market information, such as information

relative to employment sectors, educational requirements, information on occupational supply and demand, and other information on careers aligned to state or local economic priorities;

• programs and activities related to the development of individualized graduation and career plans; and

• career guidance and academic counseling that provides information on postsecondary and career options; and

Uses of FundsPlan and carry out the elements described in section 134(b)(2)(D) of the local plan to support high-quality implementation of career and technical education programs of study; and

Develop and implement evaluations of the activities carried out with funds under this part, including evaluations necessary to complete the annual needs assessment required under section 134(a).

Program of Study Elements• sustained, intensive, and focused professional development for teachers, administrators, guidance counselors on both content and

pedagogy that—• supports high-quality academic and career and technical education instruction• ensures labor market information is utilized to inform programs and guidance and advisement offered to students

• curriculum aligned with the requirements for a program of study defined in section 3(X)

• teaching and learning strategies focused on the integration of academic and CTE content, including supports necessary to implement such strategies

• ongoing relationships among education, business and industry, and other community stakeholders

• opportunities for secondary students to earn postsecondary credit while in high school, such as through credit transfer agreements

• career and technical student organizations, and other activities that promote the development of employability skills

• appropriate equipment and technology aligned with business and industry needs

• a continuum of work-based learning opportunities, such as job shadowing, mentorships, internships and apprenticeships

• valid and reliable technical skills assessments to measure student achievement, which may include industry-recognized certifications or lead to other credentials

• support services to ensure equitable participation for all students

• recruitment and retention efforts to ensure highly effective educators and administrators

Accountability Questions• What info has been most important to your state

advocacy efforts?• How can we reduce the data burden on programs?• If Perkins only required the collection of data on

Program of Study students, would that be okay?

Workforce Investment Act

Workforce Investment Act• Strengthening Knowledge and Investing in Life-Long

Skills (SKILLS) Act (H.R. 803)• Passed the House on March 15, 2013

• Workforce Investment Act of 2013 (S. 1356)• Passed HELP Committee on bipartisan vote

• Bipartisan, bicameral negotiations yielded compromise last week

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act • Elimination of sequence of services• Direct contracting with education providers• Focus on career pathways• Common accountability measures• Workforce boards streamlined – may be more

difficult for CTE to be represented

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act

Infrastructure funding:• Local WIBs are directed to attempt a voluntary agreement, as done under current

law, before the new funding mechanism goes into effect• Partner contribution is limited to 1.5% of total grant funds available, and must

come from administrative expenses• One-stop partner contributions are based on proportionate use of the one-stop

system• Statutory requirements of partner programs must be considered when determining

contribution amount• If state statute places authority of partner program funding outside of the

governor’s office, then the determination of contribution amount is made by the eligible entity or official with that authority

• Only local areas without a voluntary agreement are affected by the mechanism

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act • Bill “hot-lined” in Senate• Will be considered on floor next week as

amendment to House bill• Currently, no amendments, although some non-

controversial ones possible• After bill passes Senate it will go back to House• No “Plan B”