2014 ACTE National Policy Seminar recap.

Lynch, Sean

Despite a historic blizzard hat brought the rest of the washinton, D.C., metro, area to a screeching halt on March 3, more than 400 ACTE members made their way to the National Policy Seminar (NPS) in Arlington, Virginia, to learn about the issues that affect their communities most and to make their voices heard in our nation's capital. The event was a rousing success that brought attendees face to face with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill, built their professional networks and connected them to ACTE's public policy staff to polish their message. Through rain, sleet and snow, ACTE members showed up ready to make Washington work for CTE.

It was inspiring to see so many CTE professionals conic together to communicate how our nation's career and technical education system is positively impacting issues, such as student achievement, the skills gap and the economy at large," said ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson in a release after the event's conclusion. "The knowledge and passion that our members displayed in advocating gives me confidence that we can make a difference in Congress and across the country. Increasing understanding about CTE means that more legislators will value and support it, and that's a win for students."

Bridging the Partisan Divide

In the event's opening session, attendees enjoyed an address from keynote speaker Catherine "Kiki" McLean., co-founder of the bipartisan citizens' movement "No. Labels," on the need for greater cooperation between Democrats, Republicans and independents to restore a functional legislative environment in Washington.

The endgame of politics is that we solve problems. ... [But] that's not what's happening today," McLean said to the packed audience. "In American politics. we have built a culture that rewards obstruction, that rewards individual interest, as opposed to a political unity across the country that says, 'We need to fix the problems. We need to stop fighting and start fixing, where we stand up for elected officials when they do the right thing."'

McLean explained that her organization spearheaded initiatives like "No Budget, No Pay" to show Congress that the American people expect progress From their leaders. She also noted that ACTE members should challenge their legislators to take a stand as a part of the Solution rather than the problem. Later, members echoed these same sentiments to their lawmakers as they told their stories to policymakers on both sides of the aisle

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Digging Into the Issues

NPS has built a reputation as the premiere event to learn about issues affecting CTE professionals today, and 2014 lived up to the hype by bringing attendees the newest information about what they can expect from Congress and the Administration. One of the most well-attended sessions was on the Carl I). Perkins Career and Technical Education Act--the primary source of funding for CTE programs nationwide-which is due for reauthorization. ACTE Deputy Executive Director Steve DeWitt moderated a panel of experts on the Perkins Act and education funding. Also on the panel were Alisha Hyslop, ACTE's director of public policy; Ned McCulloch, global issue manager for skill development and education at IBM; and Sasha Pudelski, assistant director, policy and advocacy, at the School Superintendents Association (AASA). The session afforded the panel the opportunity to share their insights with ACTE members regarding what they can expect on the funding front, thus giving attendees the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively make their case to lawmakers and administration officials to build support for this crucial piece of legislation.

"With discussions on Perkins reauthorization beginning in Congress, it is important for CTE professionals to be engaged on key issues. This panel emphasized the two most important ideas to emerge from early Perkins hearings: the need for stronger business and industry engagement and [the need] for stronger linkages between secondary and postsecondary education," Hyslop said of the session. While the panelists remained skeptical of the Perkins Act being reauthorized this year, they believed that significant progress could be made to build a sound foundation and identify future CTE allies in Congress.

Despite slick roads and bone-chilling wind, presenters from ACTE and other organizations hosted sessions on topics such as effective advocacy tactics in a partisan Washington, as well as policy-specific sessions, including the Higher Education Act, Workforce Investment Act, and Elementary and Secondary Education Act. These sessions provided detailed and in-depth analyses from ACTE's legislative staff and colleagues from other organizations, and challenged attendees to think about how these complex political issues will affect them and their students.

On the second day of the event, attendees made the trip across the Potomac River to Capitol Hill for their offsite general session, which was held at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center's Congressional Auditorium. There, they heard from a panel of congressional staff about key legislation affecting CTE. Later, ACTE presented Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mark Begich (D-AK) with its Policy-maker of the Year Award for 2013.

"In my home state of Wisconsin, we have a long tradition of making strong investments in our schools, because we understand that a quality education is at the foundation of building a strong path to the middle class," Baldwin said upon receiving the award. "That's why I have always worked to help build a strong path through career and technical education. Because everyone should have the opportunity to gain the skills they want and need to pursue their dreams."

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Sen. Baldwin gained ACTE's support because of her steadfast commitment to CTE and careers, including her work on the Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation (GREEN) Act. Through her efforts, she has ensured that Wisconsin-and our country-will re-mainon the edge of CTE policies.

Although Sen. Begich was unable to attend the event in person, attendees were later greeted by a video recording of his acceptance remarks. Sen. Begich has also displayed exemplary dedication to meeting Alaska's needs in Congress, including championing legislation like the Counseling for Career Choice Act.

"In my time in the Senate, I've worked hard to ensure Alaska's students have access to high-quality education in STEM and CTE," Begich said. "Our global economy is changing, and we need to help our young people gain the resources and skills to be competitive in the 21st-century workforce

During the session, attendees also heard remarks from Sen. Tim Kaine (DNA) and Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), who arc co-chairs of the Senate and House CTE caucuses. Both have expressed an appreciation for the value of secondary and postsecondary CTE in connecting Americans with rewarding careers.

Baldwin, Begich, Kaine and Thompson have demonstrated that they understand what it takes for Washington to work for CTE; and ACTE members encouraged their own legislators to join these leaders durinindependent visits on Capitol Hill in the afternoon.

Assigning Homework

Another popular segment of NPS was that hosted by Tara Berescik, the 2014 ACTS Teacher of the Year. Berescik, an agricultural educator with Tri-Valley Central School District in Grahamsville, NewYork, told the audience about her belief in our collective responsibility to work together for a stronger future For CTE programs nationwide. She also emphasized the special role that ACTE members have to play in building that future by telling their leaders and the public about what GTE means to them and their students.

"I charge each of you to go home and tell people something great that you have done. It could be that you helped a student when nobody thought there was a chance For success. It could be that you stepped out of your comfort zone and met with a legislator this week and promoted yourself, your state and this profession with pride," Berescik said. She emphasized that every CTE professional has a story to tell, explaining how progress and awareness of CTEprograms can spread and gain momentum. Berescik said: "No matter what, you need to be your own advocate so that the small successes that we have every day compound and amass!"

Running the Numbers

On the event's final day, attendees were treated to a heavy dose of data in session on the latest research and developments in CTE. Presenters, including Director Ilene Kantrov and Managing Director Joyce Malyn-Smith of the Education Development Center, Inc.'s Learning and Teaching Division, and Joan Perry, director of strategic alliances from the National Research Center For College and University Admissions, informed the audience about the latest information that will shape the GTE community's advocacy messages and help them identify policy trends within the field.

Attendees also enjoyed a healthy mix of information and comedy in a presentation by James R. Stone III, director of the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education at the University of Louisville. Stone kept the audience chuckling as he explored new insights into how educators can engage students, what to expect in the economy and the job market, and how GTE makes a demonstrable difference in our nation's vitality.

Building Their Way

As e snow started to melt and the skies cleared, so too went the National Policy Seinar's attendees. However, they left their footprint on Capitol Hill and in the minds of their leaders in Washington, returning home with a new set of tools to advocate for CTE in their own communities and stronger connections to their friends and colleagues on the ACTE staff. Without a doubt, they will spend the rest of their year staying active in the GTE community and keeping up on the issues in order to ensure that Washington will work for them.

NPS has built a reputation as the premiere event to learn about issues affecting CTE professionals today, and 2014 lived up to the hype

Sean Lynch is the media relations manager at ACTE. He can be reached at slynch@acteonline.org.

By Sean Lynch