[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 101 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Ms. Baldwin):
  S. 3083. A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 to improve career and technical education 
opportunities for adult learners, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am proud to reintroduce the Career and 
Technical Education for Adult Learners or the CTE for All Act with my 
colleague, Senator Baldwin.
  Our legislation addresses the critical need to expand educational 
opportunities for working adults with low academic skills. The need for 
strengthening the skills base for working adults continues to grow. 
Increasingly, middle-skill and sustainable wage jobs require education 
beyond high school. Yet, according to U.S. Census Bureau's American 
Community Survey data, 12 percent (24 million) of working age adults 
have less than a high school diploma. Recent Department of Education 
data show that only 5 percent of adults with less than a high school 
diploma have any type of postsecondary certificate, certification, or 
license compared to 27 percent of adults overall. Moreover, an 
estimated 36 million adults in the U.S. have low skills with nearly one 
in six having low literacy skills and one in three having low numeracy 
skills.
  Our ability to grow the economy and decrease income inequality will 
depend, in large part, on our commitment to providing education and 
training programs to low-skilled adults. These workers are concentrated 
in fields such as construction, health care, manufacturing, and 
hospitality. Expanding career and technical education opportunities to 
these workers could enhance their career trajectories and strengthen 
their earning potential, fueling economic productivity and growth for 
the future. Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Department of 
Education, roughly half of low-skilled workers are not engaged in 
formal or non-formal learning opportunities. The CTE for All Act aims 
to change that by ensuring that there are pathways for adult learners 
in career and technical education programs.
  Specifically, our legislation will ensure that programs funded under 
the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act align with adult 
education programs and industry sector partnerships authorized under 
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The CTE for All Act 
requires consultation with the state director for adult education in 
the development of the statewide plan for career and technical 
education. The bill calls for career and technical education programs 
to include low-skilled adults among the special populations targeted 
for outreach and support and allows states to report separate 
performance indicators for adult career and technical education 
students. The legislation makes adult education providers that offer 
integrated education and training programs eligible to receive career 
and technical education funding. Additionally, the legislation 
encourages career and technical education programs to include work 
experiences for their students of all ages.
  We have worked with the adult education community and other 
stakeholders in developing this legislation. We are pleased to have the 
support of the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education, 
the Commission on Adult Basic Education, the National Skills Coalition, 
and the National Coalition for Literacy.
  As a Nation, we are at our best when every person--no matter their 
starting point--has the opportunity to develop their skills and reach 
their potential. The CTE for All Act will strengthen the ladder of 
opportunity for adult learners who work hard every day to provide for 
their families. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and 
work with us to include these provisions in the reauthorization of the 
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

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