Just before leaving office, the Biden administrations released two new “information collections” that required both state and local providers of career and technical educations to meet additional reporting requirements.
Under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, the move was seen by many in the CTE space as burdensome and unnecessary, while potentially adding additional costs and barriers to institutions…
And it has not gone over well.
In a January 24 letter to the acting Secretary of Education (and new administration), the executive directors of ACTE and Advance CTE said…
“As you are aware, in recent weeks ED has continued to advance significant and counterproductive changes to two Information Collection Requests (ICRs) impacting Perkins V’s State Plan Guide and related Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) requirements.
“Our organizations, along with a number of states and other entities, including policymakers, have consistently raised significant concerns about these proposals since they were first unveiled last fall.
“These efforts are regulatory in nature, mandating specific data collection approaches and related reporting methods that go far beyond the statutory requirements and intent of Perkins V, and do not help states or local programs create additional benefit or value for learners.
“Concerningly, ED has proposed these wide-ranging modifications nearly six years after the legislation was passed by Congress.”[1]
Well… Rejoice!
The burdensome regulations have been reversed.
On February 10, the US Department of Education released a statement titled “U.S. Department of Education Reduces Burden on Career and Technical Education Programs.”
Saying, “The Trump Education Department is committed to strengthening our career and technical workforce and equipping students with the tools they need to excel.
“The 11th hour Biden-Harris information collection on CTE programs was unnecessary bureaucratic red tape that would only drive up costs and hinder innovation. As we celebrate CTE month, the Department looks forward to working through a more thoughtful and cooperative process with states, local CTE programs, employers, stakeholders, and Congress to reauthorize the Perkins Act.”[2]
Further, the dept said, “The Trump Administration will begin the process of reversing both the information collections on the Perkins State Plan Guide and the Consolidated Annual Report Guide by directing the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to reinstate the prior versions of the State Plan Guide and the Consolidated Annual Report Guide, promptly publishing a notice in the Federal Register of the proposed reinstatement, and communicating the change to state CTE directors.”
Now, this is a big victory not only for those in the CTE space, but for the students (the future hands-on workers of America) whom they serve. If you operate a CTE institution, it looks like we may now have a Department of Education that’s finally on your side.
For information on how Conversion Media Group can help you increase enrollments at your trade, career-based or technical education institution, simply visit us HERE.
Or call +1 800 419 3201
[1] Advance-CTE-ACTE-Perkins-ICR-Letter_1.24.25_FINAL.pdf
[2] U.S. Department of Education Reduces Burden on Career and Technical Education Programs | U.S. Department of Education