"From Classroom to Career: Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE"

House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education

2025-11-19

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education convened to discuss the vital role of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in preparing students for successful futures and addressing national workforce needs [ 00:07:30 ] . While there was broad consensus on the importance of CTE, a significant portion of the discussion centered on the recent transfer of CTE programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor [ 00:14:14 ]

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. The meeting highlighted the benefits of CTE, the challenges posed by administrative changes, and the importance of industry collaboration in modern education [ 00:09:59 ]

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Themes

Importance and Benefits of CTE

Career and Technical Education is presented as a crucial pathway to success that extends beyond traditional four-year college degrees [ 00:07:57 ] . CTE programs provide students with hands-on experience and lead to high graduation rates, often exceeding 90%, and industry-recognized credentials [ 00:08:42 ] . These programs are essential for preparing a skilled workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy and address existing job skill gaps [ 00:10:14 ]

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. Examples of successful CTE initiatives include cybersecurity programs that foster national service and high-demand careers, aviation academies where students earn pilot licenses, and manufacturing programs that equip students with advanced technical skills . Speakers emphasized that CTE is fundamentally an educational program that integrates foundational academics, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills, preparing students for continuous learning, rather than just narrow job training .

Concerns Regarding Transfer of CTE Programs to Department of Labor

A major point of contention was the executive action to transfer the administration of CTE and adult education programs, including $2 billion in funding under the Perkins Act, from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor [ 00:14:21 ]

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. This move, driven by a broader effort to dismantle the Department of Education, was criticized for creating bureaucratic inefficiencies and violating the Perkins Act [ 00:15:01 ]

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. Critics argued that the Department of Labor lacks the educational expertise to administer these programs effectively, risking a return to narrow vocational training disconnected from long-term academic and career pathways . Reports of states struggling to access grant funding and navigating new, complex payment systems highlight the operational difficulties caused by the transfer . Furthermore, concerns were raised about the impact on ensuring equitable access and civil rights monitoring for all students .

Role of Industry Partnerships and Innovation

Effective CTE programs are characterized by deep integration with local industries, ensuring that curriculum and skills taught are directly applicable to current and future workforce demands . This collaboration helps keep pace with rapid technological advancements such as AI, robotics, and data analytics, which are continuously transforming industries . Continuous teacher training and the development of programs that address the shortage of qualified instructors are also vital for sustaining CTE growth . Successful models like the SME Education Foundation Prime program and the West Michigan Aviation Academy showcase how strong partnerships can lead to innovation, providing students with real-world skills and opportunities . The goal is to create scalable models that can be replicated, fostering a culture where local communities identify their needs and leverage partnerships to serve young people effectively [ 00:54:28 ]

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Tone of the Meeting

The tone of the meeting was largely appreciative and supportive when discussing the intrinsic value and success stories of Career and Technical Education [ 00:09:59 ]

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. However, it became notably contentious and divided when addressing the administrative transfer of CTE programs to the Department of Labor [ 00:14:14 ]

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. Democratic members expressed strong opposition, viewing the transfer as a politically motivated and legally questionable attempt to dismantle the Department of Education, leading to potential chaos and negative impacts on educational equity [ 00:14:55 ]

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. Republican members, while acknowledging some potential initial challenges, largely dismissed the concerns as "noise" and suggested the transfer promotes necessary coordination and local control, aligning with their broader vision for reducing federal oversight . Despite the political disagreements, there was a shared recognition of CTE's importance across the political spectrum [ 00:14:14 ]

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Participants

Transcript

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The Subcommittee on Early Childhood Elementary and Secondary Education will come to order.  I note that a quorum is present.  Without objection, the chair is authorized to call recess at any time.  The notion that every student should go to college was perhaps well intended, but it was never compatible with the needs of young people or of our country.  While every student should have the opportunity to go to college, this is not the only path to success.   Thankfully, in recent years, we've seen a renewed commitment to supporting alternate pathways, in particular, career and technical education.  While CTE is not new, its value has often been overlooked or dismissed in recent decades as the fallback option for students who don't fit into the traditional academic mold.   Today, there is no denying its critical role in preparing the workforce for a skills-forward economy.  CTE is for students who want to build, create, and lead.  It is for students who learn best by doing.   Over 8 million secondary school students nationwide are already participating in CTE programs.  They're learning to design, weld, code, and provide life-saving care.  These students gain hands-on experience that leads to good and stable jobs.  And the results speak for themselves.  Students who concentrate in CTE, completing more than two credits, graduate at rates above 90%, significantly higher than the national average.   CTE participation also boosts academic achievement and even promotes college readiness itself.   More than 40 states allow students to take CTE courses through dual enrollment programs at technical or community colleges, enabling them to earn college credits in high school.  This can lead to associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and industry recognized credentials.  And students are eager for these opportunities.  85% of recent high school graduates took at least one CTE course.   CTE classrooms are filled with future engineers, healthcare professionals, business owners, and innovators.
It's not a second option.  It's a pathway to success in high school, higher education, and the workforce.   How we prepare our students today will determine not just their future success, but our nation's economic strength.  Job creators across the country are struggling to find workers who have the right skills.  This present and growing gap threatens our nation's economic competitiveness.  Employers are looking for candidates who demonstrate skills, not just degrees, to meet the demands of an economy with 7.2 million open jobs.   In our dynamically changing economy, we must reimagine student programs to meet the demands of today's and tomorrow's labor market.   And that's what CTE is all about.  By design, it equips students with skills that match real job opportunities, providing pathways to immediate employment.  That means fewer unfilled jobs, more career-ready graduates, and a stronger economy.  I look forward to hearing from our witnesses who have built exceptional career and technical education programs and to discussing how we can strengthen and expand their work at schools across America.  With that, I'll turn to the ranking member for an opening statement.
thank you very much mr chairman and thank you to the witnesses we've been i know we've both been looking forward to this hearing i i appreciate this hearing today where we can talk about the importance of career and technical education which historically has had bipartisan support but i do want to address the recent deeply troubling actions that threaten the effectiveness of cte and long-standing bipartisan legacy earlier this year president trump kicked off his second term by signing an executive order to dismantle   and close the Department of Education.  As part of that effort, the executive branch used a questionable interagency agreement in IAA to transfer much of the administration of CTE and adult education programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.  Along with this $2 billion in funding for programs under the Office of Career and Technical Education,   was transferred out of the Education Department to the Department of Labor.  Just yesterday, the Department announced six new interagency agreements to move more critical education programs to the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services.  This is not routine.  It's the consequences of this agreement will be far reaching.  It's also part of a broader effort to shut down the Department of Education without the consent of Congress.   We should all be concerned about the destructive message of shutting down the Department of Education.  What does that say about our country?  Scattering programs and resources across offices that aren't equipped to administer them or hurt students in schools.  I want to make clear today that we must fight to reclaim our Article 1 responsibility and conduct oversight over the administration to reverse this irresponsible decision.   Moving the administration of CTE to the Department of Labor is a mistake for many reasons.

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