I am in Washington, DC for an education -focused national policy seminar. This is the sixth time I have attended this seminar in the past eight years. It's always a very rewarding and positive experience. I am with 10 or so educators from Utah. The seminar format is basically the same each year, however the topics and issues are dynamic (to say the least). Where this is a Presidential election year, Congress is currently waiting around for new leadership before key education issues like "No Child Left Behind" and "Perkins Funding" are resolved. So, in the meantime, our role at the policy seminar was not as critical this year as in the past.
Our group met yesterday (Monday) afternoon with Dr. Troy Justesen, "The" Assistant Secretary of Education (Office of Vocational and Adult Education). We had an excellent discussion with him about the status of education in Utah and what's on the horizon for CTE (Career and Technical Education) nationwide. Today (Tuesday) was our day on Capitol Hill. We met with Rep. Jim Matheson and Sen. Bob Bennett this morning and then met with staffers for Rep. Chris Cannon and Sen. Orin Hatch this afternoon. Sen. Hatch had planned to meet with us however, he was called out to an emergency "intelligence committee" meeting and did not return. Watching the news later this evening -- it was reported that a key military intelligence officer stepped down this afternoon, so I guess that's where Hatch was. I opted out of a meeting with Rep. Bishop this year. He is much too arrogant and obnoxious for me.
So, what did we have to say in these meetings -- basically we thanked each congressional office for their support for Career and Technical Education for Utah. Each year our State Office of Education gets about $15.0 million from the Federal Government just for this area of education. It may not seem like a lot for a state-wide program of services, but it goes a long way in serving students. In addition, we focused our discussions on the importance of CTE funding for the future and the importance CTE has for the economy overall in Utah. Utah now ranks 24th in the number of college graduates among adult workers --- most workers have technical certification or less than a bachelor's degree to meet the high demand for skilled workers in Utah. Such training is supported in part by Federal funds.
So, that's my political science sharing for the day. This was the first year for me to visit the folks at the US Department of Education. Our group was given some sound advice by the folks there on how to go about getting specific "school counseling and guidance" language into Federal law. We'll see what happens in the years ahead.
Washington, DC is one of my all time favorite places to visit. Usually, I have a family member with me -- maybe next time.
Our group met yesterday (Monday) afternoon with Dr. Troy Justesen, "The" Assistant Secretary of Education (Office of Vocational and Adult Education). We had an excellent discussion with him about the status of education in Utah and what's on the horizon for CTE (Career and Technical Education) nationwide. Today (Tuesday) was our day on Capitol Hill. We met with Rep. Jim Matheson and Sen. Bob Bennett this morning and then met with staffers for Rep. Chris Cannon and Sen. Orin Hatch this afternoon. Sen. Hatch had planned to meet with us however, he was called out to an emergency "intelligence committee" meeting and did not return. Watching the news later this evening -- it was reported that a key military intelligence officer stepped down this afternoon, so I guess that's where Hatch was. I opted out of a meeting with Rep. Bishop this year. He is much too arrogant and obnoxious for me.
So, what did we have to say in these meetings -- basically we thanked each congressional office for their support for Career and Technical Education for Utah. Each year our State Office of Education gets about $15.0 million from the Federal Government just for this area of education. It may not seem like a lot for a state-wide program of services, but it goes a long way in serving students. In addition, we focused our discussions on the importance of CTE funding for the future and the importance CTE has for the economy overall in Utah. Utah now ranks 24th in the number of college graduates among adult workers --- most workers have technical certification or less than a bachelor's degree to meet the high demand for skilled workers in Utah. Such training is supported in part by Federal funds.
So, that's my political science sharing for the day. This was the first year for me to visit the folks at the US Department of Education. Our group was given some sound advice by the folks there on how to go about getting specific "school counseling and guidance" language into Federal law. We'll see what happens in the years ahead.
Washington, DC is one of my all time favorite places to visit. Usually, I have a family member with me -- maybe next time.
(P.S. I saw Sen. Ted Kennedy from a short distance. He was in a committee hearing we peeked at from a hallway in the Dirksen Building. Also, Mayor Ralph Becker was in Rep. Cannon's office at the same time we were. He got in to see Cannon, we didn't. I did get a chance to talk with the Mayor for a few minutes.)
1 comment:
How was the mayor? Glad you made it home safely.
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