Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act

VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE ACT -- (House of Representatives - May 04, 2005)

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 366, the Vocational and Technical Education Act of the Future. This bill reauthorizes the Perkins Act, which provides career and technical education (CTE) programs at the State and local levels. In addition, the Perkins Act provides skill-building and academic opportunities for our youth and improves employment outcomes.

We live in an information and knowledge-based economy. It is imperative, therefore, that we continue to recognize that a strong academic foundation is necessary for all students emerging from high school. Moreover, the skills necessary for entering postsecondary education are similar to the skills necessary for success in the modem workplace. For example, it is a fact that high school students entering construction related apprenticeship programs must have algebra, geometry and trigonometry skills, which are also requirements for college university systems.

The research is clear. High school students completing a rigorous academic core coupled with a career concentration have test scores that are equal to or higher than those of students considered to be "college prep". They are more likely to pursue postsecondary education, have a higher grade point average in college, are less likely to drop out in their first year of college, and they have better employment and earnings outcomes than other students.

This bill will ensure that "rigorous and challenging academic content" in the high school curriculum is aligned with postsecondary education.

For the foregoing reasons, I encourage support for this bill to ensure that all high school students' educational needs are adequately met.

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