In order to better prepare students for demands of a 21st century workforce, U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Todd Young (R-IN) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced legislation to support redesigning high school curriculums to focus more on career and technical education.
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Excellence and Equity Act would authorize grants to support efforts by school districts, employers and higher education institutions to help students earn industry-recognized credentials, or credit toward post-secondary degrees or certificate programs.
“As West Virginia undergoes an economic transition and grapples with high unemployment, it is critical that we take steps to equip our workforce with the right skills for today’s jobs,” Capito said. “I’m pleased to join with my colleagues to introduce the CTE Excellence and Equity Act, which supports necessary partnerships between higher education and employers and will improve career and technical training in our high schools.”
Activities supported by the measure would include integration of academics and CTE courses that meet university admission requirements, support for integrated professional development offered by academic and CTE teachers, and establishing credit-transfer agreements between local schools and institutions of higher education.
Strong CTE programs are a critical a part of giving students the skills they will need to compete in tomorrow’s workforce, Young said. “This legislation is a positive step forward in closing the skills gap by supporting high-quality CTE programs that are aligned with the needs of our local communities,” he said.
Career and technical education is an option that is often overlooked in discussions on how to increase the competitiveness of the nation’s schools. And nearly 80 percent of college instructors and 60 percent of employers indicate that public high schools fall short in preparing students for postsecondary education, according to the nonpartisan organization Achieve.
“Career and technical education gives students the opportunity to gain skills and experience to become college and career ready,” Portman said. “The CTE Excellence and Equity Act will benefit millions of high school students across the country by expanding access to high quality CTE programs which lead to college credit, workplace skills and opportunities for internships and apprenticeship programs.”