AGC Supports Increased Career Technical Education Funding

The Associated General Contractors of America – along with more than two dozen other associations, interest groups, and businesses – recently signed a letter to President Obama seeking an increase in funds for the program that supports career technical education (CTE). CTE, formerly known as vocational education or voc-ed, is funded at the federal level through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, funding for which has decreased over the past few years, even as enrollment nationwide has increased. The April 3 letter was authored by the Association for Career and Technical Education, the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium, and the American Association of Community Colleges. The letter seeks an increase in the fiscal 2010 federal budget for Perkins funding to $1.4 billion. The letter, which also will be sent to the U.S. Office of Management & Budget, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the U.S. Department of Education, and members of the U.S. Congress, notes: “The undersigned organizations, representing education and training, employer groups, and students, believe that career technical education (CTE) is a critical investment in the American workforce. … During this turbulent economic time, it is crucial to note that high-quality CTE programs can provide the education and training necessary to stimulate the economy and provide the solid education that is needed to prepare youth and displaced workers with the skills they need to succeed in today’s highly technical environment.” AGC believes that CTE offers a good pipeline for young people who are interested in the construction industry to connect with potential employers and to gain skills needed to be successful in our industry.