The Perkins Reauthorization Bill, S. 250, passed Congress and is now P.L. 109-270. This legislation amended the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 by reauthorizing secondary and postsecondary vocational education programs through fiscal year 2011. Additionally, the legislation updated a number of definitions including career and technical education, Tech-Prep programs, and career planning. The intent was to modernize the Act reflecting the every changing career opportunities in vocational and technical professions. Finally, the bill awarded grants for career and technical education activities in rural areas or areas with a high percentage of these students.

Grange Position

The National Grange supported the passage of S. 250. Our policy is as follows:

Vocational Education/Continuing Education

1. The National Grange supports vocational, continuing and adult education. We encourage State Granges to support educational programs within each state serving those persons who are beyond public school age in need of further education. This support includesthe Job Corps Program, the only residential training program that exists solely to serve hard-core unemployed, undereducated youth. Furthermore, we also support providing rehabilitative training equivalent to high school education or trade school to prison inmates.
2. We support supplemental and full-time instruction for adults in agricultural program areas vital to the industry that is provided by a separate title in legislation. We strongly believe that vocational agriculture should be a major vocational program area, including the development and supervision of occupation experience programs for year-round instruction from professional agricultural educators where needed.
3. The National Grange encourages Subordinate Granges to become familiar with local vo-ag/FFA advisory boards and/or FFA Alumni support affiliates and support FFA and FHA chapters.
4. The National Grange supports career evaluations at the middle/junior high school level to prepare students to make subsequent educational or training decisions in the appropriate area of their choice.
5. The National Grange supports the federal government’s continued investment in career technical education by reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998.
6. The National Grange supports the use of the voucher system in vocational rehabilitation programs, allowing the recipient to choose the vocational rehabilitation program which best satisfies his/her requirements and occupational goals.

Action Needed

Please call or write an email to your Senators and Representatives thanking them for passing the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. Please feel free to cut and paste the following sample letter. If you don’t know your Senators or Representatives e-mail addresses please click here to find them.

Sample Letter or E-mail:

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Action Alert, please contact Legislative Director Leroy Watson by e-mail: lwatson@nationalgrange.org by fax: 202-347-1091 or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 114.

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