Washington, May 4, 2005 - The U.S. House of Representatives today gave bipartisan approval to legislation that will help states and local communities improve vocational and technical education and enhance opportunities for students. Rep. Jim Gerlach was one of 416 House Members to vote on Wednesday in favor of H.R. 366, the Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act.

“Vocational and technical education is a vital and critical part of our nation’s education system,” Rep. Gerlach said. “This legislation reauthorizes the popular Perkins Act while making a few adjustments to enhance the overall educational experience for the students, improve accountability and increase results. One of the unique attributes of vocational and technical education programs is their ability to show students a path that could end in a certificate, credential, employment, military, or postsecondary education.”

The Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act would strengthen and improve the framework of current vocational and technical education programs without expanding the federal role in education. The bill would increase the focus on student academic achievement and streamline federal funding to help states and local communities make the most of federal resources. The bill also continues to move away from the so-called School to Work model of the past, explicitly rejecting federal standards and instead increasing local control and local accountability.

The Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act renews and reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, often known as the Perkins program. To improve opportunities for students, the bill would:

• Focus on academics without expanding the federal role in education;
• Streamline bureaucracy and give more money to local communities;
• Streamline funding while preserving quality Tech-Prep activities;
• Emphasize success at the local level;
• Ensure equitable treatment for private school students;
• Improve professional development for teachers; and
• Strengthen opportunities for coordination between secondary and postsecondary vocational and technical education.