How Sequestration Could Affect Career Technical Education Funds

We may have stepped back from the fiscal cliff – as Congress negotiated an 11th hour deal on taxes at the start of 2013 – but the threat of sequestration still looms. Congress has until March 2, 2013, to work out a deal to avoid automatic across the board budget cuts. If these cuts take place, career and technical education funding could be at risk for a $92 million cut in fiscal year 2013 alone.

The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 provides federal funds for career technical education (CTE). Perkins provides formula grants to states, allowing states to determine the allocation of funds to secondary and post-secondary institutions. The funds can be used to support career pathway initiatives, including industry certification vouchers, curriculum development and support services. Currently the act provides almost $1.3 billion in support for career and technical education programs. However, it is due for reauthorization this year. If Congress fails to reauthorize the funding, it will continue to operate at existing levels, so long as sequestration is avoided and cuts to existing levels are not made.

We implore Congress to do two things:

Reauthorize Perkins in the first session of the 113th Congress: In doing so, Congress should ensure that all students have access to quality CTE programs in high schools and post-secondary institutions. The reauthorization should build on the best practices of the last several years while making necessary improvements. Funds should be used to benefit the students by meeting high standards of quality and be focused on ensuring the student’s success. The reauthorization should reflect the times that we live in and the technology that we have access to, while not stifling future innovation.

Avoid Sequestration: Under the Budget Control Act of 2011, if Congress fails to find $1.2 trillion in budget cuts by March, across the board cuts to both mandatory and discretionary funding effect will go into effect with limited exceptions. Non-exempt discretionary defense spending would be reduced by 9.4 percent and non-defense discretionary spending by 8.2 percent. Non-exempt mandatory spending would be reduced by 7.6 percent, defense mandatory spending by 10 percent and Medicare spending by 2 percent. These cuts would devastate many aspects of the economy, including the technology sector. As a critical component to our economy, this would create a negative impact on many other industries.

We urge Congress to take action that enables them to look at budgets independently, as opposed to across the board cuts, while continuing to invest in our future. An investment in CTE today will make for a stronger America tomorrow and will keep the U.S. competitive with the rest of the world. There are currently approximately 280,000 open IT jobs available in the U.S. and a good chunk of the openings could be filled with proper training and education.