Budget Proposal Could Be Devastating Blow for Career Technical Education

Plan Could Set Back Efforts to Train Skilled Workers Needed for Economic Recovery, Says Business-Labor Coalition GetREAL

• Press Release
• Source: GetREAL
• On 2:20 pm EST, Tuesday January 13, 2009

SACRAMENTO, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 13, 2009 -- A broad-based coalition including business, labor and educators is warning that the latest budget proposal could devastate efforts to train the skilled workers needed to rebuild California's economy.

"We are deeply concerned by the proposal allowing school districts to divert revenue budgeted for career technical education (CTE) to other budget areas as they see fit," said GetREAL co-chair Jack Stewart, president of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association. "This could be a devastating blow for career technical education."

"Career technical education is one of the last electives in a sea of mandates," said GetREAL co-chair Bob Balgenorth, president of the State Building & Construction Trades Council. "CTE funding would surely be the first to be raided under the proposal as school districts scramble to fund those programs required by the Legislature.

"Since California does not include CTE as part of a balanced education, eliminating its funding protections essentially kills it -- at a time when we should be nurturing it," said Balgenorth.

"To ensure the survival of career technical education, funding for CTE must be protected -- either that, or CTE should be made part of required study," said Stewart. "Cutting CTE funding is one thing, but allowing those funds to be spent on non-vocational programs is totally unacceptable."

"Skilled workers built California's economy," said Balgenorth, "but we're seeing a sharp decline in the number of skilled workers because of the continuing assault on career technical education. Instead of reversing this trend, the proposal could worsen it."

"Not only will a lack of skilled workers slow economic recovery in the short run, it will do serious long term damage to California's competitive edge," said Stewart. "Without CTE, we can't train enough skilled workers. And without them, we can't rebuild and sustain this economy."

GetREAL is a coalition of business, labor, agriculture, public safety, health care, child advocates and educators who believe California schools should provide a balanced education that includes challenging academic studies and career technical education for "hands on" learning.

Members include the State Building & Construction Trades Council, California Manufacturers & Technology Association, California Farm Bureau, Western States Petroleum Association, Johnson & Johnson, California Agricultural Teachers Association, California Business Education Association, California Industrial and Technology Education Association, California Space Authority, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Richmond Children's Foundation, Chevron, California Association of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors, and Minorities in Law Enforcement.

Additional information available at www.getrealca.com.

     Contact:
     Gino DiCaro
     916-730-3443