U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would help students explore different careers at a younger age by creating a career and technical education pilot program in middle schools.
Typically students aren’t exposed to career and technical education programs until high school, but the Middle School Technical Education Program (Middle STEP) Act would change that. Under the bill, a new pilot program would connect middle schools with colleges and local businesses to develop programs for career and technical education (CTE) exploration through apprenticeships or other types of hands-on learning.
The legislation’s goal is to prepare students for the skills they need to fill good-paying jobs that are difficult for employers to fill.
“Career and technical education is a powerful tool in preparing students for good-paying jobs in fields that help drive our economy in West Virginia and across the country,” Capito said. “By making sure students are aware of the opportunities provided by this kind of education early on, we can help set them up to succeed both in school and in the workforce.”
The bill, which Capito introduced with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) has drawn wide bipartisan support. Senate Democrats who cosponsored the bill include Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Mark Warner (D-VA).
The legislation would provide young students with an understanding of what courses and educational requirements are needed for jobs in growing career fields through academic counseling. The introductory middle school career program would also help students draft a high school graduation plan showing what courses and skills they need to target to prepare for jobs in a particular career.
LeAnn Wilson, the executive director of the Association for Career and Technical Education, endorses the Middle STEP Act. “In today’s competitive global economy, it is important that students have opportunities to explore, plan and pursue high-skill, high-demand, high-wage careers beginning in middle school,” Wilson said.
The Middle STEP Act would also require that the CTE programs be available to low-income middle school students in both urban and rural communities.
“The Middle STEP Act will help more of our students find the path to success that works best for them and prepare a new generation to meet the demands of a 21st century workforce,” Capito said.