from ACTE
CAREER TECH UPDATE
news, views and best practices
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TAKE YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS BACK TO SCHOOL:

INVITE YOUR REPRESSENTATIVE AND SENATORS TO VISIT YOUR PROGRAM

As you know from recent action alerts from ACTE, Perkins funding legislation is moving forward in both the House and Senate, and Perkins reauthorization may be up for a full House vote soon. While the Senate HELP Committee has yet to approve its version of the reauthorization bill, we may also see action on reauthorization in the Senate as well in the coming weeks.

With important Career Technical Education (CTE) legislation brewing in Congress, now is a great time for your members to raise awareness of CTE by hosting a "back to school" visit for their Members of Congress. As you know, when Members of Congress are able to see a program working to help people in the communities they represent or meet with those who are working to provide CTE in their states and local areas, they are more likely to support CTE programs. Furthermore, a site visit provides a great opportunity for your members to showcase their successful programs and to develop and maintain good relationships with their Members of Congress.

For tips on how to arrange a site visit with Members of Congress, click here

For more background on Perkins reauthorization and appropriations, please visit: www.acteonline.org/policy/index.cfm.

If You Can't Meet Them, Write Them!

Encourage your state members to fax or email their elected officials asking them to support Perkins reauthorization and increased funding for CTE. It is important for Congress to know that CTE provides effective and proven links to skills-building opportunities and improved employment outcomes; that employers continue to need well-trained workers with good skills; and that CTE serves many in your community.

For tips on contacting Members of Congress and our recent action alerts, please visit:
www.acteonline.org/members/news/legislative_news/legalert090804.cfm.

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HEADLINES

CTE OFFICIALS HOPEFUL PERKINS REAUTHORIZATION WILL NOT INCLUDE BLOCK
GRANTS

Improving the quality of career and technical education programs is of singular importance to the U.S. Department of Education, according to the administration's chief of CTE, Susan Sclafani. Increased accountability, academic rigor in CTE programs and pathways from CTE programs to two and four-year postsecondary programs will be the issues that will take center stage when the reauthorization process of the Carl D. Perkins Act begins sometime this year, she said.
> full article

ACTE'S IMAGE CAMPAIGN WORKING FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Career and technical education and ACTE continue to garner positive coverage in the news media, most recently with an article in The Wall Street Journal on Dec. 30. ACTE president Thomas Applegate gave an interview for the article "Technical Training's Popularity Grows as Path to Strong Career" which highlighted the growing number of high school graduates with excellent academic credentials who are opting to pursue CTE at two-year technical colleges - instead of a bachelor's degree at four-year institutions - in order to jump-start their careers.
> full article

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BRIEFING ROOM: Summary of news from across the country


STUDENTS AT IOWA HIGH SCHOOL EXPLORE CAREERS IN AVIATION

Iowa -Students in a program at Central Campus in Des Moines, Iowa, are being trained for careers in aviation while still in high school. The Des Moines Register reported on Jan. 8 that seniors spend eight weeks of their final semester in a school-to-work program with the 132nd Fighter Wing Iowa Air National Guard Unit.
> full article

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NEWS CLIPS: Announcements, appointments, awards

LAWMAKER WANTS TO CHANGE STATUS OF SOUTH DAKOTA TECHNICAL INSTITUTES

South Dakota - The state's four technical schools should have junior college status and their own governing board, according to state Sen. Bill Napoli, R-Rapid City. Sen. Napoli plans to introduce a bill this year that would change the status and governance structure of the
technical institutes. Currently, South Dakota's four post-high school technical institutes located in Sioux Falls, Watertown, Mitchell and Rapid City, are governed by local school boards.
> full article

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RESOURCE ROUNDUP: New books, guides, reports, videos

STATES FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO BRING ACHIEVEMENT OF SPECIAL-ED STUDENTS
UP TO PAR

States are struggling to meet federal requirements on academic proficiency for students with disabilities, according to an Education Week report, "Quality Counts 2004: Count Me In: Special Education in an Era of Standards." This is Education Week's eighth annual state-by-state report card on public education.
> full article

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MONEY MATTERS: Announcements, grants, funding, financial aid

AMERICAN HONDA FOUNDATION AWARDING GRANTS FOR YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The American Honda Foundation is offering grants to support job training, math, science, and environmental education projects. Non-profit scientific and education organizations, educational institutions, and national programs involved with curriculum development that encourages innovative education methods and techniques are eligible to apply.
> full article

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BOOKMARKS: Internet Resources

GETTING A JOB IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ONLY A CLICK AWAY
www.constructionjobs.com
There is a new online job board and resume database for the construction,
building and design industries. The site gives visitors interested
in getting a job in the industry the knowledge about the skills and
competencies needed to secure a job.
> full article

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR:
Nationwide CTE conferences, events

http://www.acteonline.org/members/news/actecalendar.cfm

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CAREER TECH UPDATE INFORMATION

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* Editor: N. Susan Emeagwali (semeagwali@acteonline.org)
* Managing Editor: Cliff Weiss (cweiss@acteonline.org)
* Subscriptions: Doris Guerdat (dguerdat@acteonline.org)
* Webmaster: Judy Kim (jkim@acteonline.org)
Career Tech Update is published twice-monthly by the Association for
Career and Technical Education (ACTE), 1410 King St., Alexandria,
VA 22314.
© 2004 Association for Career and Technical Education. ISSN 1531-257X.
All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication in whole or
in part without the express prior written permission of ACTE is strictly
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Click for full 21^st Century Pathways for High School Reform Paper
HTML | PDF (requires Adobe Acrobat)

Articles:

High School Reform: A Discussion

.

Click here for the NM legislature website:
http://www.legis.state.nm.us

For a complete Bill Analysis, check out the NM State Department of Education website:
http://www.sde.state.nm.us