Act Now to Support Career Technical Education Funding

CTE (Career Technical Education) is facing very serious threats. The House-passed appropriations bill for FY 2011, H.R. 1, eliminates all funding for the Perkins Tech Prep program, which would mean a loss of $4,049,330 to CTE programs in Illinois.

The Senate is now working on its version of the bill, and you are in a critical position to speak out for CTE and make an impact. Illinois' Sens. Richard Durbin and Mark Kirk are members of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee and need to hear from you!

Action Needed:
 

• Call Sen. Durbin's office at 202-224-2152 and Sen. Kirk's office at 202-224-2854 and ask them to fight to restore Perkins funding in the FY 2011 appropriations bill.
• Try to speak to the staff member that works on education and appropriations issues in each office; if that staff member is unavailable, leave a detailed message and try again at a later time.
• Use the talking points and chart on ACTE's Web site to help make the case.
• Be sure to share what losing this funding would mean to your program, students and community.
• Thank the staff member for the time, and report on the conversation to Jamie Baxter at ACTE.
• If you have already called and were able to speak to the education staff person, then recruit other members of your community to call and reinforce your message. Forward this message to colleagues, parents, business/industry advisory members and others who have a stake in CTE programs. We must continue to put pressure on Sen. Durbin and Sen. Kirk -- because so many programs face cuts in this bill, they need to hear from as many constituents as possible on behalf of CTE and Perkins! 

Tech Campus Student Enters National Hairstyle Competition

Sarah McHugh (Antioch HS) entered the Junior Style Stars national student bridal hairstyling competition. There are approximately 250 students nationwide that competed for a top prize valued at over $50,000.00 dollars. Students had to complete a bridal look at their cosmetology school and then bring their manikins to JC Penny’s for four photographs; a front, 2 sides and the back. The pictures were then uploaded to the Junior Style Stars website along with the student’s competition number. All photos are judged and winners will be announced in April. They have also added another variation to the competition-in April a phone number will be assigned to text in your vote for your favorite hairstyle.

House Passes H.R. 1—Keep Fighting

On February 19, the House passed H.R. 1 by a vote of 235-189. The bill cuts the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act by $102.9 million by completely eliminating the Tech Prep program. However, there is still hope for stopping these cuts! Our next line of defense is in the Senate. The Senate is expected to begin working on this bill on February 28, since both chambers are on recess next week.

It is crucial that you continue to fight for a restoration of funds to Perkins! Although the process has moved to the Senate, the House will still be involved because both chambers have to agree on the final bill. The recess provides us a great opportunity to keep the pressure on Members of Congress to restore Perkins funding!

TAKE ACTION

Continue to CALL your Senators and tell them to restore funding to the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act! You can call the Capitol Switch Board at 202-224-3121 (Senate) and ask to be connected to your Senators' offices. It is critical that calls continue to these offices from as many different people as possible.

Try to speak to the staff member that works on education and appropriations issues, if that staff member is unavailable, leave a detailed message.
Use the talking points and chart on ACTE's Web site to help make the case.
Thank the staff member for their time, and report on the conversation to Jamie Baxter at ACTE.

Follow-up with House offices:
If your Representative voted for H.R. 1, call that office to express your disappointment and explain how crucial funding for Perkins is!

If your Representative voted against H.R. 1, call and thank him or her for voting against the bill and continue to explain how necessary Perkins funding is to your students, community and economy!

Remember, Congress is on recess the week of February 20. Reach out to state and district offices and look for area town hall meetings or other community events. Take advantage of this time and visit your Representative and Senators in the state and district! Use ACTE's recess guide for tips on how to make the most of the recess.

Visit www.acteonline.org/saveCTEfunding.aspx for more information on how you can get businesses involved in these efforts and other actions you can take to save CTE funding!

Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-5), a member of the CTE Caucus, takes the importance of CTE to the House floor

Game/C++ Programming Creates Video Game Box Art

High school students studying the video game industry focus on programming and also learn about packaging.  Assignments include application and practice developing video game box art.  Samples of school year 2010-2011 student made box art are now available for viewing.  Learn more about the Game/C++ Programming class.

SkillsUSA Testing Update

Students can now get their Exam Tickets from their instructors.  Students are to report to Libertyville High School by 8:45 at the latest to take their qualification tests.  Bring a photo ID and sharpened pencils.

Due to the lack of student sign-up, the breakfast originally scheduled for Grandma V's has been cancelled.

Culinary Arts Creates Tasty Chocolate Dipped Treats

See the chocolate dipped treats the students in Culinary Arts made for Valentines Day: