01 Aug Bipartisan Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act Reauthorization Bill Signed into Law
On Tuesday, July 31st, President Trump signed into law H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which is the main federal investment that funds CTE programs across the U.S. The legislation provides nearly $1.2 billion of grants to states to train students and workers to compete for high-skilled, in-demand jobs.
Prior to July 31, 2018, the Perkins Act, which benefits workers seeking skills and employees pursuing skilled workers, had not been reauthorized since 2006. According to the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee, the bill will:
+ Empower state and local community leaders by simplifying the application process for receiving federal funds and providing more flexibility to use federal resources to respond to changing education and economic needs.
+ Improve alignment with in-demand jobs by supporting innovative learning opportunities, building better community partnerships, and encouraging stronger engagement with employers.
+ Increase transparency and accountability by streamlining performance measures to ensure CTE programs deliver results, empowering parents, students, and stakeholders with a voice in setting performance goals and evaluating the effectiveness of local programs.
+ Ensure a limited federal role by reining in the Secretary of Education’s authority.
Congress should be applauded for its dedicated and bipartisan work to pass legislation that will benefit workers and employers.