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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 18, 2024 12:47 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Aerion Abney |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Study on Student Barriers to Access Career and Technical Education |
| Pennsylvania has over 80 career and technical centers and additional high school-based programs that provide education to students towards industrial, agricultural, family and consumer science, technical marketing and distributive occupational, business, and computer and information technology careers. Due to a large increase in career and technical education (CTE) students over the past decade, we now have over 68,000 students in these programs. CTE programs have been especially popular with special education students. Furthermore, this increased interest is outpacing capacity as discussed during the Basic Education Funding Commission hearings. We have thousands of students turned away annually or put on wait lists. If we are serious about workforce development, we must support education that develops critical skills necessary to meet the needs of the economy. Meanwhile Pennsylvania is contributing just nine percent of the funding to career and technical education. To provide accessible education choices in Pennsylvania, and support our workforce pipeline, I am asking the Legislative Budget and Finance Commission to conduct a study and provide the legislature with information on the barriers to entry into CTE programs students face. Please join me in support of students, educators, and the economy to identify and develop solutions to expand the capacity of CTE education in Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HR481
Memo Updated: June 18, 2024 12:48 PM