The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) issued a joint statement today saying "a stronger investment is needed" than the fiscal year 2010 budget of $1.3 billion for funding career and technical education programs.
A consortium of groups including agriculture equipment manufacturers and other manufacturing and high-tech industries signed onto the letter requesting additional funding to support secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs.
The consortium said enrollment in CTE has increased by 6 million since 1999, with approximately 15.6 million students taking CTE courses during the 2006-07 school year.
With increased funding from the federal budget, schools could utilize the money to enhance their programs of study, strengthen the integration of academics and CTE and create a stronger accountability system, the groups said.
"Career and technical education plays a critical role in improving and growing the U.S. economy through secondary, postsecondary and workforce level training leading to high-skill, high-demand and high-need jobs," said ACTE executive director Janet Bray.
