Washington, D.C., Jul 29 -

U.S. Representative Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-05) today applauded passage of the conference report for S. 250, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act.  The Senate passed the legislation earlier this week and now the bill is ready for the President’s signature.

“By overwhelmingly supporting reauthorization of the Carl Perkins Act, Members of Congress have demonstrated their dedication to preparing students to enter the 21st Century workforce,” said Rep. Brown-Waite.  “This bill represents an excellent balance of strengthening career and technical education programs with improved curriculum and local authority in allocating federal funding.  Perhaps the most encouraging component of this bill is that it gives states and local communities the flexibility to decide how best to educate their students.”

The challenges of a global economy have increased the need for the American workforce to have a comprehensive background in and knowledge of math and science curricula.  The Carl Perkins education reauthorization act emphasizes math and science education that incorporates the full use of 21st Century technology.  The bill also guarantees that states use federal funding to provide a continuous transition from secondary to postsecondary academic, career, and technical education.  Additionally, states are charged with developing career and technical programs of study. 

“The numbers don’t lie,” continued Rep. Brown-Waite.  “Virtually every high school student takes at least one vocational educational course.  One in four students takes three or more courses in a single program area.  One third of college students are involved in vocational programs and 40 million adults are enrolled in short-term post secondary occupational training.

“With such overwhelming support around the nation for reauthorizing vocational education, today’s passage of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act is a welcome benefit for teachers and students throughout Florida and the United States.”

For the 2006-2007 school year Florida received over $67 million dollars through the Carl Perkins program.