Adams Supports Career and Technical Education Legislation, Requests Report to Study STEM Curriculum in Community Colleges
Washington, D.C.—Today, the Education and Workforce Committee marked up HR 2353 Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act for the 21st Century. Representative Adams joined her colleagues in supporting this bipartisan legislation and requested language that would instruct the Department of Education to review the effectiveness of partnerships between state and local grantees and community colleges in promoting STEM curriculum.
"Closing the skills gap through innovative and work-based learning opportunities is key to building a 21st century workforce and growing our economy," said Congresswoman Adams. "I've visited businesses across the 12th District and they all continue to stress the importance of educating our workforce to fill the existing available jobs and to train employees for the jobs of the future.
"To measure our progress and identify areas of improvement, I have proposed report language that, if adopted, would encourage the Secretary of Education to review the effectiveness of state and local partnerships with community colleges in promoting STEM education and learning. I am supporting this bipartisan legislation to ensure that all students have access to quality job training, regardless of their background, and I will continue to work with my House and Senate colleagues to make improvements to the bill as the legislative process progresses."
The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act builds on recent reforms to K-12 education and the workforce development system. The bipartisan legislation will improve current CTE policies to help more Americans gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce. Specifically, the legislation will:
- Provide states more flexibility in the use of federal resources in response to changes in education and the economy.
- Ensure that career and technical education prepares all students, including historically disadvantaged and vulnerable students, for success in high-skill, high-wage occupations and careers in nontraditional fields.
- Improve alignment with in-demand jobs by supporting innovative learning opportunities, building better community partnerships, and encouraging stronger engagement with employers.
- Enhance career and technical education through increased focus on employability skills, work-based learning opportunities, and meaningful credentialing, so students are prepared to enter the workforce poised for success.
- Streamline performance measures to ensure that career and technical education programs deliver results for students and taxpayers.
- Reduce administrative burdens and simplify the process for states to apply for federal resources.
- Reward success and innovation in CTE program practices that have been proven to best serve students and employers.
- Provide parents, students, and stakeholders a voice in setting performance goals and evaluating the effectiveness of state and local CTE programs.
- Empower state and local leaders to develop plans that improve the quality of career and technical education and take into account unique local and state needs.
To read a fact sheet on the bill, click here.
To read the bill, click here.
Congresswoman Adams is member of the Education and Workforce Committee and the subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.