Monday, December 22, 2008

Your Opportunity to Provide Input to the Transition Team

Your Opportunity to Provide Input to the Transition Team


The Obama Presidential Transition Team is using the webpage www.change.gov to solicit ideas from the American people on issues of concern. This solicitation provides an avenue to educate the incoming Administration about the importance of Perkins funded career technical education and the benefit it is providing millions of students, as well as employers, across the country.

As with any education campaign it is critical that we provide a unified message to help enhance the understanding of CTE. I would suggest that you keep your message short and to the point and focus briefly on at least one of the following points that is particularly pertinent to your state. The following points are consistent with the message our community has been delivering for the last several months:

• CTE programs are reforming high school curriculum,

• CTE programs are helping keep students engaged in school and preventing drop outs,

• CTE programs are educating and training students who will take jobs in high need, high skill, high wage industries,

• CTE programs enhance cooperation and helps to leverage resources between K-12, community colleges, and businesses.


You can make these comments in either your professional capacity or as a private citizen--whichever approach makes the most sense for you. To get to the web page where you can input your comments go to www.change.gov. Once there, click the Agenda tab, then click Education, then click Submit Your Ideas.