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Rep. Wilson to Introduce Legislation to Help Rural Technical Education Wilson to tour Jefferson County Vocational School on Friday to discuss bill

Press Release

By: Bob Latta
By: Bob Latta
Date: May 6, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Education

Rep. Wilson to Introduce Legislation to Help Rural Technical Education
Wilson to tour Jefferson County Vocational School on Friday to discuss bill

With American demand for a skilled technical workforce rising, Congressman Charlie Wilson will introduce the Rural Career and Technical Education Expansion Act to encourage the retention of vocational teachers in rural areas.

"More and more students, especially in rural areas, are pursuing career and technical education that focuses on critical coursework like technology, business and marketing, healthcare, and other industrial trades," Wilson said. "My legislation will ensure that these students are taught by the best and brightest vocational educators."

Studies show that students in rural schools are highly likely to be involved in vocational courses.

"My hope is that more vocational teachers will choose to stay in rural schools if they are eligible for the benefits this legislation provides. If enacted, it would provide student loan forgiveness to teachers of integrated career and technical education courses at rural secondary schools," Wilson said.

The bill states that any teacher who completes five full-time school years teaching integrated career and technical education courses at a rural secondary school could receive up to $17,500 to repay a student loan.

"This week we celebrated National Teacher Day," Wilson said. "What better way to honor our vocational teachers than by helping them pay for their own education."

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