[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Casey, and Mr. 
        Warner):
  S. 2788. A bill to provide support for the development of middle 
school career exploration programs linked to career and technical 
education programs of study; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, the key to America's continued success lies 
in improving our Nation's educational system to meet the demands of the 
21st century job market. Today, many students enter high school and 
college with little knowledge of the careers available to them outside 
of traditional pathways. With college costs continuing to rise, it is 
critical that students have exposure to the wide range of available 
work and career choices early in their academic careers so that, by the 
time they enter high school, they are more informed about future paths 
and what they need to do to pursue them.
  Career and technical education, CTE, are a proven way to help 
students explore their own strengths and preferences, as well as how 
they match up with potential future careers. However, limited funding 
for middle school CTE programming often means students have to wait 
until high school for this exposure.
  Studies have found that middle school students greatly benefit from 
career and technical education development programs that promote career 
exploration skills, as well as increase knowledge of career options and 
career pathways. Middle school is an important time for students to 
explore their own strengths, likes, and dislikes, and career and 
technical education exploration programs are great tools to educate 
them about the type of course or training that goes into a career field 
that matches their interests.
  This is why I am pleased to introduce the Middle School Technical 
Education Program Act, which establishes a pilot program for middle 
schools to partner with postsecondary institutions and local businesses 
to develop and implement career and technical exploration programs. 
This legislation will provide support for middle schools to create 
career and technical education programs that will provide students with 
introductory courses, hands-on learning, or afterschool programs. 
Career guidance and academic counseling is vital to ensuring that our 
students understand the educational requirements for high-growth, in-
demand career fields. Many times students receive this information too 
late in their academic careers.
  We need to make middle school more career-relevant and expose 
students to the career pathways they may choose. This legislation also 
requires that programs helps students draft a high school graduation 
plan that demonstrates what courses would prepare them for a given 
career field. If we give students at a younger age applied career and 
technical opportunities, they will be more informed about future paths 
and what they need to do to pursue them. I hope this bill spurs 
discussion on how vital middle school is for exposing students to 
career choices.
                                 ______