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Statement from Gov. Bob Wise on House-Passed Bill to Rewrite Career and Technical Education Act

“The economic success of the nation depends on a qualified and competent workforce,” said Wise.

WASHINGTON, DC –  Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. The Alliance for Excellent Education is pleased with several provisions in the bill, introduced by Representatives G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia, made the following statement:

“The economic success of the nation depends on a qualified and competent workforce that demonstrates advanced levels of knowledge and skill along the education continuum. The nation must ensure that all students are prepared for both college and a career to meet these demands. This comes by giving all students access to high-quality career and technical education programs that are integrated with rigorous academics and real-world learning experiences.

“The passage of today’s CTE bill demonstrates the nation’s commitment to improving long-term outcomes by elevating the quality of local CTE programs. This bipartisan legislation broadens accountability at the secondary school level to measure students who have attained a recognized postsecondary credential or a work-based learning experience upon graduating from high school. The bill provides greater visibility for work-based learning and dual- or concurrent-enrollment programs that provide rigorous and relevant learning opportunities for students in CTE programs.

“The bill can be further strengthened by elevating the role of employers to ensure CTE programs of study align with industry needs, providing for greater and explicit alignment between school districts and local colleges and universities to provide more students with the opportunity to gain postsecondary credit while in high school, and ensuring that important protections for special populations and historically underserved students are maintained as under current law.”

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The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, DC–based national policy, practice, and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those historically underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, a career, and citizenship. www.all4ed.org