February 8, 2008. Submitted by Gayle Murray, WMMS CTE Department Chair.

Have you or your child ever benefited from a CTE class? What is CTE? Career and Technical Education courses are federally funded classes which include: Business and Information classes (Keyboarding, Exploring Business Technologies, Business and Computer Technology 1 and BCT 2), Family and Consumer Science classes (Life Skills 1 and 2), Technology classes, and Career Exploration classes. CTE also funds a Career Development Coordinator at West Millbrook.

Each year the Carl D. Perkins Act, which is the grant which provides funding for these courses, is reviewed and the federal government has to decide whether or not to approve this funding. This year, as in recent years, the President has proposed cutting all PERKINS funding. We need your help if these courses are going to survive at West Millbrook, Wake County and in the US!

WCPSS CTE Director, David Rockefeller is a very strong CTE advocate and has made some really great connections within the political arena. He feels strongly that Bob Etheridge and David Price will support renewal of the grant. Our efforts will be well spent by reaching out to the remaining elected officials from our area in asking for support of CTE classes and renewal of the PERKINS Act. We are asking you to contact any or all of your officials and give them your story, remind them you are one of their constituents and ask for their support.

“Contact your Member of Congress to urge the rejection of the Bush Administration’s budget and to fully restore and increase the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to $1.7 billion.” advises Mr. Rockefeller. Additional information.

We thank you for your support and efforts.

Our federal legislative representatives:

Senator Richard Burr: (800) 685-8916; (336) 631-5125; (202) 224-3154
BURR.Senate.gov

Senator Elizabeth Dole: (866) 420-6083; (919) 856-4630; (202) 224-6342
DOLE.senate.gov

Representative Bob Etheridge: (888) 262-6202; (919) 829-9122; (202) 225-4531
www.house.gov/etheridge

Representative David Price: (919) 859-5999; (202) 225-1784
www.house.gov/price

Representative Brad Miller: (877) 272-3435; (919) 836-1313; (202) 225-3032
www.house.gov/miller

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Information release sent by WCPSS Director of CTE, David Rockefeller:

February 4, 2008
President Eliminates Funding for Perkins

Today President Bush released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. The budget includes $52.9 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Education, the same level appropriated by Congress for FY2008; it eliminates all funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins) and eliminates 44 other programs at a total cost of $3.2 billion. Numerous other education and workforce programs are reduced or level funded.

U.S. Department of Education officials rationalize that elimination of Perkins is due to “tough choices,” a continued focus on federal programs that support rigorous academics, and a federal Program Assessments Ratings Tool (PART) analysis which rates Perkins as ineffective.

This is unacceptable! The Perkins program plays a critical role in providing the skills and knowledge essential for a competitive workforce. Quality CTE programs are linked to rigorous academic instruction and are improving student engagement through “real world” application to prepare students for successful careers. The PART analysis is based on faulty research and was performed over five years ago.

The Bush Administration eliminated Perkins funding in FY 2006 and FY2007, and cut funding in half in FY2008. However, Congress has ignored this request and restored funding for the Perkins program each year.

It is extremely important that all members of the CTE community rally together to urge Members of Congress to reject the President’s blueprint for education, and increase Perkins funding to $1.7 billion! The Perkins program is crucial to ensuring that student’s have the necessary skills to compete in a global economy and a $1.7 billion investment will help address rising student enrollment and costs of implementation.

Contact your Member of Congress to urge the rejection of the Bush Administration’s budget and to fully restore and increase the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to $1.7 billion.

TAKE ACTION

• Call and email your Member of Congress to communicate that the threat to eliminate Perkins’ funding by the Administration is unacceptable and that an increase of Perkins funding is needed!
• Rally parents, teachers, administrators, students, business leaders, and other advocates to help this campaign to save Perkins funding.
• Use data and research to support your case.
• Gather and collect student success stories to personalize the use of Perkins funds as you speak to your Representative and Senators.
• Be sure to stress how Perkins’ funding is helping to ensure a successful workforce in your community.
• Visit ACTE’s Budget and Appropriations Web page for the latest news and resources.