Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Improve & Expand Skilled Workforce Training and Education
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) today introduced the bipartisan Education for Tomorrow’s Jobs Act (H.R. 3154 and S. 1686). The Education for Tomorrow’s Jobs Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as No Child Left Behind, to promote meaningful integration of academics with career and technical education programs in order to better align secondary education with postsecondary education and career opportunities.
Currently, school districts must submit education plans to the Department of Education outlining how they intend to use federal education funding for disadvantaged students. The Education for Tomorrow’s Jobs Act provides flexibility for school districts interested in implementing proven strategies to integrate academic and technical instruction, encouraging the creation of partnerships between school districts, institutes of higher education, local industry, and other major stakeholders.
“Young Pennsylvanians deserve an education that helps them build the skills they need for college or a career,” said Senator Casey, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “The Education for Tomorrow’s Jobs Act will help our students succeed in school and secure jobs in the workforce, bolstering our economy and ensuring that America remains competitive.”
“This bill will establish partnerships between educators and area businesses to identify skill sets needed by local industry. Those skills will be integrated into the classroom experience through hands on, project-based learning that keeps students engaged and more likely to graduate from high school,” Senator Casey added.
“The Education for Tomorrow’s Jobs Act is about American competitiveness – an integrated approach to education that will bolster student achievement, graduation rates, college readiness and career readiness, while securing our nation’s technical job base so that we can remain globally competitive,” said Rep. Thompson, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. “We have seen the harmful effects of Washington’s education mandates and this bill will allow schools to put forth the framework to ensure students have both the knowledge and skills to graduate high school ready to succeed in college and careers, and live up to the fullest extent of their individual potential.”
“This bill will complement and reinforce federal efforts to ensure that all students’ educational experiences prepare them for the real world, without duplicating current programs in a manner that respects the taxpayer and is completely budget neutral,” Rep. Thompson added.
As a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Casey has worked to improve and increase access to education. Senator Casey has introduced legislation to increase access to early education and childcare, proven to be one of the best ways to make a lasting impact on children’s success in school and life. He is also pushing legislation to increase K-12 computer science education to prepare young Americans for high-wage jobs in the growing field of computer science.
For two terms, Rep. Thompson has served on the House Committee on Education & the Workforce. He also serves co-chairman of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus, a bipartisan group of members committed to advocating the importance of career and technical education and advancing policies that improve skilled labor education and support tech-related small business job growth.
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