Magaziner Leads 23 of his Colleagues in Supporting Career and Technical Education National Programs

Magaziner Leads 23 of his Colleagues in Supporting Career and Technical Education National Programs 

Full text of letter

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) announced that he is leading 23 of his colleagues in requesting $215.4 million for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Innovation and Modernization program, which provides competitive grants to improve and modernize CTE and ensure workforce skills align with labor market needs. In their letter, Magaziner and his colleagues emphasized the importance of CTE, which expands access to skills-based learning and provides students with opportunities to gain real-life work experience, earn college credits, and make progress towards industry credentials before graduating high school. 

As a member of the bipartisan Congressional CTE Caucus, Rep. Magaziner also requested robust funding for noncompetitive Basic State Grants through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins). 

“Robust investments in career and technical education are critical to ensuring that today’s students are equipped with the necessary skills and education to meet the demands of the 21st century economy,” said Rep. Magaziner. “Working Rhode Islanders will benefit greatly from increased funding for CTE programs, which will enhance U.S. global competitiveness, increase economic opportunity, and expand access to training pathways in critical industries such as manufacturing, cybersecurity, and more.”

Read full text of letter here:

March 24, 2023

Dear Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member DeLauro: 

We write to respectfully request $215,421,000 for Innovation and Modernization  (I&M) grants within Career and Technical Education (CTE) National Programs in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. The CTE Perkins I&M program identifies, supports, and rigorously evaluates evidence-based and innovative strategies and activities to improve and modernize CTE and to ensure workforce skills taught in CTE programs align with labor market needs. 

Though the vast majority of Perkins V funding is awarded on a noncompetitive basis via Basic State Grants (BSGs) and approved state plans, I&M grants provide federal grants directly to local education agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education (IHEs), and state board to improve the quality and effectiveness of CTE programs. By expanding access to skills-based learning and training pathways in critical industries–such as manufacturing, healthcare transportation, defense and cybersecurity–the next generation will build the skills necessary to fill high-paying jobs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CHIPS and Science Act, maintaining U.S. global competitiveness in the 21st Century. 

Within this funding request, we support $200,000,000 for the Career-Connected High Schools initiative anticipated for launch in FY 2023, which leverages the evidence-based I&M grant authority in the Perkins Act to promote earning college credit while in high school through dual enrollment in core content and career and technical coursework; work-based learning opportunities; and academic and career counseling. This will provide students with the opportunity to gain real-life work experience, earn college credits, and make progress towards an industry credential before they graduate high school. Therefore, we request the inclusion of the following language:

$200,000,000 shall be for competitive grants to consortia of local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and employers to pilot evidence-based strategies to increase the integration and alignment of the last two years of high school and the first two years of postsecondary education to improve postsecondary and career outcomes for all students. 

The remaining $15,421,000 will allow CTE National Programs to provide technical assistance, cover costs for awards anticipated to be made in FY23, continue ongoing implementation of CTE State and local programs under the Perkins Act, and conduct mandated research and evaluation activities.

To ensure people from all backgrounds and all regions and communities around the country can benefit from skills based learning–especially low-income, underserved, and rural communities–we respectfully urge your strong support of $215,421,000 million for I&M grants. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Blunt Rochester, Lisa; Bonamici, Suzanne; Budzinski, Nikki; Carson, André; Cicilline, David; Courtney, Joe; Craig, Angie; Crockett, Jasmine; Davids, Sharice; Davis, Danny; Gottheimer, Josh; Hoyle, Val; Ivey, Glenn; Krishnamoorthi, Raja; Magaziner, Seth; McBath, Lucy; Nickel, Wiley; Panetta, Jimmy; Pappas, Chris; Scholten, Hillary; Sorensen, Eric; Stevens, Haley; Tlaib, Rashida; Tonko, Paul

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