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A Step Closer to a Modernized Career and Technical Education System

by Melanie Anderson   •  

We are thrilled with the introduction of the bipartisan “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act,” sponsored by Rep. Glen Thompson (R-PA), Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), and Rick Nolan (D-MN), that reauthorizes and updates the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

The Opportunity Nation Coalition has long advocated the expansion of high-quality career and technical education. In order to improve opportunity for 5.5 million young Americans that are currently out of school or out of work we have to change the way we do business. U.S. employers are struggling to find skilled workers while at the same time, millions of young Americans are unable to get jobs. Many young adults lack the skills and training required for good-paying, middle-skill jobs in in-demand fields such as information technology, health care, biotech, advanced manufacturing and business. Students in high-quality CTE programs aligned with regional workforce demands will be well positioned to fill the projected gap of five million middle-skill jobs by 2020, improving their own prospects as well as bolstering their communities.

You can read the bill here. Stay tuned to this space for analysis and updates.

Melanie Anderson Melanie Anderson is the Director of Government and External Affairs at Opportunity Nation. She directs the campaign’s government relations and policy efforts. Read Melanie's bio.

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