ACTE

The plan also consolidates funding for the Tech Prep program with Perkins Basic State Grants funds. Some states already combine these two funding streams, while others keep the programs separate. ACTE is currently evaluating the impact of this proposal to determine a course of action.

If Congress enacted the president's budget proposal, funding for the Perkins Act would remain $42 million below FY 2002 levels, as it has for the last few budget cycles. This is unacceptable! During these troubling economic times, it is necessary for Congress to invest in CTE through the Perkins Act, which is a tried-and-true solution to ensure that competitive, skilled workers are well-prepared to hold jobs in high-wage, high-skill, high-demand career fields.

It is important to remember that the president's budget is not binding. It is a blueprint that Congress will work from when developing program allocations through the budget and appropriations process. However, to encourage Congress to reject the level-funding of Perkins, we must take action!

It is crucial that the CTE community reach out to legislators to encourage increasing the Perkins program to $1.4 billion! See below for action needed and read more about other details of the president's budget request on the CTE Policy Watch blog (Department of Labor, Department of Education) and in ACTE's press release and funding chart.

Take Action:

• Call your congressional representatives and senators. Contact information can be found by entering your ZIP code in the "Write to Congress" box on ACTE's Web site.
• Ask to speak to the staff person who handles education and/or appropriations issues.
• Be sure to explain to the staff member that CTE funding is crucial for your school, district and state. Share the following key points:
• Highlight how CTE programs in your area prepare both youth and adults for a wide range of careers in the 21st century economy, and how CTE is essential to ensuring American competitiveness.
• Use your own personal experiences to demonstrate that CTE programs are revitalizing your community by spurring cooperation and innovation between high schools and postsecondary institutions.
• Underscore that CTE is partnering with the business community to ensure that programs are being created quickly and efficiently to prepare students for careers in fields where their skills are truly needed.
• Give specific examples of how state budget cuts have impacted CTE in your area (courses cut or programs closed, equipment or curriculum upgrades delayed, etc.) and how additional funding would be used to benefit students.
• Ask your representatives and senators to reach out to congressional leaders, as well as House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey (D-WI) and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), to let them know how vitally important CTE programs are to your region's economic recovery and stability and to ask for Perkins funding to be increased to $1.4 billion.
• Thank the staff member for his/her time and follow up, follow up, follow up! You should be contacting this staff member throughout the year regarding funding for CTE, so be sure to build a positive relationship and keep in touch.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the ACTE Public Policy Department. You can read more about ACTE's policy activities and the latest happenings in Washington, DC, on ACTE's CTE Policy Watch blog—check it out today!