News and Information

Workforce Training Bill Signed Into Law

Developed with bipartisan support, the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the 21st Century Act was signed into law on July 31st, providing $1.2 billion in federal funding to state and local CTE programs. The new law amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, the primary federal funding source for high school and post-graduation CTE programs, which was last reauthorized in 2006. The Perkins legislation is one of several federal laws currently impacting public education in Hawaii. The new law:

• Simplifies the state application process for funding
• Offers more flexibility in allocation of funds, including increased consideration for rural areas and for programs focused on changing economic needs
• Allows states to set their own goals for career and technical education programs, including graduation percentage goals
• Directs states to set performance goals with input from local educators, parents, students and communities (rather than negotiate them with the Secretary of Education as previously) and annually publish performance results
• Limits federal authority; the federal government may no longer withhold funds when a state does not meet its own performance targets

For details, see the full text of the Act.