AFT Applauds Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Career and Technical Education

WASHINGTON—American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten released the following statement on the bipartisan passage of H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, the vehicle to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act:

“We fight every day for working folks to have good jobs that provide livable wages to sustain families. That is the purpose of high-quality career and technical education programs, and that is why we support this bill and are grateful that, at least in this one public education arena, there is real bipartisanship. High-quality CTE trains students for well-paying jobs and equips teachers with resources to provide students with the skills and education they need to succeed.

“As we confront new challenges, like rebuilding the nation’s broken infrastructure, we need to cultivate the next generation of designers and engineers. It’s essential to give students the skills and knowledge they need to be able to immediately enter the workforce and help grow the economy.

“H.R. 2353 reflects the AFT’s recommendations for strengthening CTE programs, including a commitment to high-quality professional development for educators, supportive partnerships that link school districts and teachers with industry partners, and an emphasis on career guidance.

“We are thankful for the bipartisan leadership of Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) in introducing this important bill, and for the commitment of House Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) and ranking member Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) in moving this legislation through the House. We look forward to working with the Senate to ensure this bill becomes law.”