A bill before the U.S. Senate would provide high school
students with more opportunities to take career and technical education college
courses. The Workforce Advance Act would expand enrollment as part of Perkins-supported career technical education
(CTE) programs.
The bill lets states open up access to CTE courses that
allow students to earn college credit while still in high school. It also makes
it possible for schools to use part of the funding received through the Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act for tuition and fees for the CTE courses,
according to a report in eCampus News.
In addition, school districts could use funding to help
teachers pursue credentials needed to teach CTE courses in their high schools.
It authorizes the Department of Education to identify successful methods and
best practices for providing the courses.
"At
a time when higher education is more important for success in the 21st-century
economy than ever before, we need to help create opportunities for students in
high school to prepare for college and their future careers,” said Sen. Michael
Bennet (D-CO), who co-sponsored the bill with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). “Tens of
thousands of kids in Colorado are already taking advantage of dual- and
concurrent-enrollment opportunities, which has helped more of them enroll and
do well in college. This bill will help improve career and technical education
programs by expanding these opportunities across the country to allow even more
students to benefit.”
