Political Climate

1. 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

2. Congressional Schedule Senate RecessHouse Recess May 26-30 June 2-6 June 30-July 4 June 30-July 4 August 4-September 5 August 1-September 5 September 22-26 October 3----

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

4. 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

5. Federal Perkins Appropriations(in thousands of $)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Perkins Reauthorization

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Partner Groups NASDCTEc AASA NEA NGA Business groups – IBM, Chamber, Opportunity Nation, etc Ed/Workforce groups – NAPE, NASSP, NAWB, counseling groups, CTSOs, etc

15. ACTE Perkins Guiding Principles Redefine the Federal Role in CTE Target Expenditures Define Program Quality Elements Ensure Relevant and Consistent Data Offer Incentives for Innovation Provide the Infrastructure to Support the System

16. Program of Study The 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.

17. Uses of Funds Provide 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

18. Uses of Funds Plan 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).

19. 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

20. 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?

21. Workforce Investment Act

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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”