Editor's report

Motor, Jun 2003 by Lypen, John

Funding for technical education in our public schools is being threatened by budget cuts and reallocations. It's up to all of us to make sure it doesn't happen.

Nearly four years ago (July 1999) I wrote about the successful revitalization of an automotive votech program in Guilford County, North Carolina. Right now, however, there's a proposal before Congress that threatens some of the very funding that, in part, made success stories like the one in Guilford County possible.

The importance of funding for technical training in our public schools can't be overstated. And I can't imagine anyone stating the case better than Jim Clark, Ph.D., Office of Career and Technical Education, Guilford County Schools, in Greensboro, North Carolina:

The Carl D. Ferions Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, the major source of funding from the federal government to the states for vocational education, expires at the end of the year and federal educational officials are not backing its renewal. In its place, Dr. Carol D'Amico, Assistant secretary for Adult and Vocational Education in the Bush administration, is requesting a system of block educational grants.

This could be devastating to secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs across the country. Here's why:

Perkins funds are categorical, meaning they are earmarked specifically for CTE and cannot be used to fund other programs. The proposal by Dr. D'Amico's office would replace categorical funding for CTE with block grants that the states could use for a variety of programs besides CTE. The danger in this instance is that CTE programs get sacrificed to fund other programs deemed timelier. (This scenario was envisioned by Kentucky's former Senator Carl Perkins, and is the very reason he wanted CTE funding to be categorical.)

The loss of categorical CTE funding would likely have an immediate effect because of the financial stranglehold most states find themselves in at present....

Historically, secondary vocational (now CTE) programs have provided opportunities for students to develop the skills needed to equip them for careers. They've also been one of the most highly regarded sources of training for businesses and industries across the nation. Across the country, example after example of successful CTE programs can be found.

In Guilford County, the schools, with the dedicated assistance of local business partners, have developed College Tech Prep (CTP) courses of study in ten areas that provide students with both high-level technical training and the rigorous academic courses that prepare them for entry into two- and four-year colleges. For the past three years, 75% of the graduates of these programs have gone on to postsecondary schools for additional training.

With the help of Perkins funding and local industry support, old, poorly equipped vocational shops have been replaced with high-tech training labs-many of them certified by national industry certifying organizations.

Perkins funding and industry support have helped create automotive technology labs with the latest in hand tools, alignment machines, engine diagnostic equipment and training software. Students have completed CTP courses in metals manufacturing technology and have used the skills they learned to receive mechanical engineering degrees from four-year universities. Perldns funding and industry support enabled the schools to purchase the equipment to make these opportunities possible.

Now, more than ever, America's students need the high-tech training and rigorous academic preparation these CTE and CTP courses of study are providing. It's not the time to back away from the commitment this country has always given to its young people through the CTE programs. Rather, it's time to continue and strengthen the vision Carl Perkins had so many years ago, and continue to give students every opportunity to rise to their potential.

This legislation-so vital to your industry-will soon be before Congress. Your help is needed, and you are urged to contact your senators and congressional representatives.

It makes good sense to take the advice of Dr. Clark, and organizations like the Association for Career and Technical Education and Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, who also urge their members to petition Washington in support of this funding. You can find contact information online at www.house.gov and www. senate, gov.

John Lypen jlypen@motor.com