Hirono Kicks off Small Business Committee Field Hearing on Growing Hawaii's STEM Pipeline with Visit to Farrington High School

Press Release

Senator Mazie K. Hirono today visited Farrington High School with Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, Board of Education Member Kenneth Uemura, administrators, educators, and students to discuss how federal programs, such as the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act, support Hawaii students as they explore career pathways, including in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

"Federal funding for Farrington and high schools across the country provide the opportunity for students to map-out career paths in a variety of technical fields, including STEM fields," said Senator Hirono. "Over the next two days, I will highlight programs in Hawaii that are helping young people develop careers with good pay here at home, and how I support these efforts in Congress."

Senator Hirono visited Farrington's Engineering Academy, Culinary Academy, and Digital Media studio. Tomorrow, Senator Hirono will chair a field hearing on Maui on growing Hawaii's STEM career pipeline, and visit with Hawaii small businesses who are supporting STEM careers.

The Carl D. Perkins Act provides funding and strengthens CTE programs in Hawaii and across the country, ensuring that programs are rigorous and that academic and technical content is linked across secondary and postsecondary education. Senator Hirono's recently introduced Equity in Career and Technical Education Act (ECTEA) would improve Perkins by strengthening its equity provisions for underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities. ECTEA would also make other changes to help state and local educational agencies improve equity in CTE.

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