The Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children released Career and Technical Education is Essential for our Economy Post-COVID-19, a fact sheet produced with PA Schools Work coalition partner the Pennsylvania Association of Career & Technical Administrators (PACTA), outlining the impacts of the pandemic on CTE programs, which are essential for our state’s workforce and economy. The fact sheet includes the results of a survey conducted earlier this year by PPC on PACTA members to understand better the challenges they face in delivering education during the public health crisis.
While federal stimulus funds received from Washington over the past year have helped address one-time costs – including additional expenses associated with equipment in delivering CTE – state investments over the past two years have stalled. We highlight how access to these programs has not improved and the timing because CTE is a pipeline for many industries that supply the frontline workforce. To ensure that all interested students have an opportunity to access career and technical education, we call on Governor Wolf and policymakers to make a $25 million investment in CTE in the upcoming 2022-23 state budget.