Press Release - Bush Budget Diminishes Career and Technical Education

February 05, 2007
For Immediate Release

Contact: Sabrina Kidwai, ACTE, (703) 683-9312

Kimberly Green, NASDCTEc, (202) 737-0303

ALEXANDRIA, VA- Today, the White House unveiled its Fiscal Year 2008 budget request, which would cut over 50 percent of funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The Perkins Act is the primary source of funding that supports local education programs that connect education and real-world careers, according to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc).

The request also asks Congress to completely eliminate Tech Prep funds within the Perkins Act. Tech Prep is a critical program aiding student transitions between secondary and postsecondary opportunities and ensuring seamless education pathways.

CTE is an important partner in keeping the United States competitive and improving our nation’s high schools, two areas emphasized in the FY 2008 budget proposal. ACTE and NASDCTEc have long called for increased focus on high schools and education to meet the needs of the 21st century economy. However, this increased focus should not come at the expense of funds for the Perkins Act and career and technical education.

In fact, ACTE recently released a position statement called, “Career and Technical Education’s Role in Competitiveness,” that outlines how high-quality career and technical education can ensure America’s future in the global economy. More than 80 percent of respondents in a 2005 Skills Gap Report indicated that they are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers overall, with 13 percent reporting severe shortages and 68 percent indicating moderate shortages. According to the 2006 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, nearly one-third of the fastest growing occupations will require an associate’s degree or a postsecondary vocational certificate. In order to meet these needs, CTE programs increase student engagement and innovative integration of math, science and literacy skills, which will meet the needs of both employers and the economy as a whole.

ACTE Executive Director Janet Bray commented, “We are disappointed with the President’s decision to reduce Perkins funding after Congress overwhelming reauthorized it in August 2006. We believe this funding is critical to ensure that students remain competitive in today’s society. Investments to the Perkins Act have already proven to be successful and should NOT be shortchanged.”

“While we appreciate that President Bush did not to zero out funding for Perkins in his FY08 budget, a 50% cut is a major disappointment,” said Kimberly Green, executive director for NASDCTEc. “Our nation is facing global competition. Career technical education has so much to offer to make education relevant and ensure higher rates of U.S. students become successful contributors to society, our economy and our workforce. This proposal moves in the opposite direction of what our nation needs.”

The Perkins Act has not received a substantial increase in funding since FY 2002. In FY 2004 and FY 2005, the Bush administration called for 25 percent cuts, and he proposed to eliminate Perkins in FY 2006 and FY 2007. Although Congress rejected these proposals, the proposed cuts for FY 2008 would be detrimental to the newly authorized Perkins Act. Funding must be increased, not cut, to help career and technical education programs continue to meet the education and training needs of the global economy.

For a podcast with additional information and insight on the 2008 Department of Education budget from ACTE Assistant Director of Public Policy Alisha Hyslop, please visit www.acteonline.org. The podcast will be posted on Tuesday, February 6.

ACTE and NASDCTEc advocate jointly for career and technical education with Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, and the White House. The Perkins program is among our nation’s most important investments in high schools, a key component of our postsecondary and workforce development systems, and is vital to American business.

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