[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3141 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3141

To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 
  to provide for career and technical education research and outreach.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 26, 2018

 Ms. Klobuchar introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 
  to provide for career and technical education research and outreach.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Career and Technical Education 
Research and Outreach Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 
        current number of job openings is at record high levels, with 
        6,000,000 job openings nationally.
            (2) The National Skills Coalition has found that middle-
        skill jobs--jobs requiring some education beyond a high school 
        diploma, but not a 4-year degree--account for 53 percent of the 
        labor market in the United States, yet only 43 percent of all 
        workers are trained at the middle-skill level.
            (3) A report by Manpower Group found that employers in many 
        industries struggle to find workers with the right skills and 
        experience. For example, more than 80 percent of manufacturers 
        say that talent shortages will affect their ability to meet 
        customer needs. Employers also report difficulties in finding 
        skilled trade workers, nurses, and technicians.
            (4) Career and technical education plays a critical role in 
        closing the skills gap and strengthening the workforce. By 
        helping students develop the skills they need for high-wage, 
        high-demand 21st century jobs, career and technical education 
        makes American businesses and workers more competitive in the 
        global economy. Our economic future depends on a highly skilled 
        and competitive workforce.
            (5) According to a national organization representing State 
        leaders in secondary, postsecondary, and adult career and 
        technical education, Advance CTE, high school students who 
        concentrate in career and technical education programs are less 
        likely to drop out; the average graduation rate for these 
        students is 93 percent, as compared to the national average of 
        82 percent.
            (6) Career and technical education programs help students 
        obtain industry relevant academic instruction that allows them 
        to explore career possibilities, acquire real-world skills, 
        gain opportunities to earn college credit through dual 
        enrollment, and earn industry-recognized credentials.
            (7) Evidence suggests that school counselors and teachers 
        are trusted sources of information about career and technical 
        education. For example, a national study by Advance CTE shows 
        that 82 percent of prospective parents and 84 percent of 
        prospective students trust and want to hear from school 
        counselors regarding career and technical education, and that 
        79 percent of parents and 83 percent of students trust teachers 
        to provide such information. School counselors and teachers are 
        therefore well positioned to engage students and parents early 
        about the range of education and career opportunities.
            (8) Reports suggest that additional research on career and 
        technical education is needed, in particular, on the 
        effectiveness of different delivery systems and approaches to 
        career and technical education. Such research will help guide 
        the development of new career and technical education programs 
        and the improvement of existing ones, enhancing education and 
        career outcomes for students and expanding the skilled and 
        competent workforce that is critical to our Nation's long term 
        economic success and competitiveness.

SEC. 3. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION RESEARCH AND OUTREACH.

    Section 114(d)(4)(A)(i) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)(4)(A)(i)) is amended--
            (1) in subclause (IV), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subclause (V)(bb), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(VI) the effectiveness of 
                                different delivery systems and 
                                approaches for career and technical 
                                education, including comprehensive high 
                                schools, technical high schools, area 
                                technical centers, career academies, 
                                community and technical colleges, early 
                                college high schools, pre-
                                apprenticeship programs, voluntary 
                                after-school programs, and individual 
                                course offerings, including dual or 
                                concurrent enrollment programs, as well 
                                as communication strategies for 
                                promoting career and technical 
                                education opportunities involving 
                                teachers, school counselors, and 
                                parents or other guardians;''.
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