Support Career and Technical Education Programs

Career and technical education helps prepare youth and adults for the future by building the skills that are essential to strengthening the American workforce and ensuring the nation’s economic competitiveness.

Over the past few years the primary federal funding stream for career and technical education, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins) has been gradually decreased, despite increased student enrollments, equipment costs and need for skilled workers.

It is time that we stand up and demand that Congress increase Perkins funds to acceptable levels to ensure that America is able to compete in this ever-changing global economy. This is especially true as America faces uncertain economic times. The need to educate and train students and displaced workers for skilled employment has never been more critical to our nation’s economic success.
 

Consider the following:

• The last substantial increase in funding for the Perkins Act occurred in Fiscal Year 2002. Since that time, funds have actually decreased by $42 million.
• From 1999-2000 to 2004-2005, enrollment in career and technical education increased by almost 55 percent, and we expect this trend to continue.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projections, eight out of the top 10 occupations with the largest job growth through 2014 will require an associate’s degree or vocational training.
• CTE programs provide the foundation of knowledge and skills that prepare students for all 20 of the fastest growing occupations in all the 14 job sectors as identified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook.
• A ratio of one CTE class for every two academic classes was shown to minimize the risk of students dropping out of high school in a 2005 National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE) report.
   

Statistics such as these emphasize the need for a strong career and technical education system to help students and adults prepare for 21st century jobs.
 

It is important that Congress invests in the Perkins program and acknowledges that CTE is extremely critical to preparing a well-skilled and successful workforce.
 

Sign the petition to call upon Congress to fund the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act at no less than $1.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2010. It is time to increase awareness and funds for CTE to ensure that America keeps its competitive edge in the global economy!