Sharing the story of CTE scholars.

Lynch, Sean

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

IT'S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER IN D.C. FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE). WE HERE AT ACTE HAVE been hard at work partnering with officials on Capitol Hill and in the Obama Administration to elevate the profile and share the story of Americas CTE programs. Fortunately, the summer brought about a big win for CTE professionals and students with the help of President Obama himself.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program serves to promote the kinds of student achievements and leadership that have made our country great. The program was originally established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 to recognize student academic achievement, and it was broadened in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter to acknowledge work in the arts. This prestigious opportunity is extended to a select group of high-performing students who have demonstrated not only scholastic aptitude, but who have also connected with their community through civic engagement and volunteerism. However, the program did not include a specific recognition for the contributions that CTE students make in classrooms nationwide.

Leading the Way

In May 2014, Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (DWI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), in partnership with ACTE, wrote a letter to the president calling for the creation of the U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education Program. The efforts of this bipartisan group of senators demonstrate the common-sense appeal that CTE has for many policymakers who recognize its importance both in connecting students with high-quality educational opportunities and in closing the skills gap by preparing the next generation of 21st-century professionals. ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson praised the move, stating in a 2014: "We are hopeful that the president will act on this request from our friends in the United States Senate to recognize and cultivate excellence among high school scholars in CTE fields."

Fortunately, President Obama heard these CTE champions' call. On June 22,2015, he signed an amendment to Executive Order 11155 that formally created the U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education Program. This new opportunity will acknowledge the work of up to 20 students based on their outstanding work in CTE, and it marks another step in recognizing the critical role CTE plays in ensuring the effectiveness of our education system.

"I am thrilled that President Obama and his Administration have taken this step to acknowledge the excellence and innovation happening in CTE classrooms nationwide, which is laying the foundation for students' college and career success," Wilson said of the president's action. She thanked Sens. Kaine, Baldwin and Portman for their work, stating, "through their work as co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate CTE Caucus, alongside Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), we can spotlight the millions of CTE students who will power our nation's workforce in the 21st-century economy."

Sharing the Message

Just weeks following the CTE scholars announcement, the White House hosted the first-ever Celebrating Innovations in Career and Technical Education event, which gathered CTE students and educators from across the country to recognize their leadership in this crucial field. First Lady Michelle Obama praised the Presidential Scholars Program's expansion during her keynote address at the ceremony:

"CTE programs like these are good for students, because they can learn new skills and find their passion; they're good for businesses because they can tap into a pipeline of skilled talent; and they're good for our country because these programs help us grow our economy, compete with other countries and unleash the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators..."

The event, which ACTE helped to organize in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Career, Technical and Adult Education, the National Coordinating Council of Career and Technical Student Organizations and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium, also featured stories of the strides that CTE students and educators are making every day.

The creation of the U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education Program marks a major victory for CTE professionals and students everywhere, and we applaud our grassroots efforts and the response from policymakers in making this goal a reality. Let's now build on this momentum in the coming school year to make CTE a top national priority. Tech

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sean Lynch is ACTE's legislative and public affairs manager. E-mail him at slynch@acteonline.org.