Proposed Federal Budget Cuts Draw Fire from School Leaders, Students, and State Officials

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 16, 2006

Students and school leaders from the New Jersey Council of County Vocational- Technical Schools joined state budget leaders today to denounce President Bush's proposal to eliminate all federal funding of career and technical education.

At a State House news conference, William H. Adams, Ed.D. superintendent of the Salem County Vocational Technical Schools, said Bush's plan to redirect $1.3 billion to his broad high school reform initiative is a short-sighted public policy that will result in high schools that are less equipped to prepare students for further study and the workplace.

"If successful, this move could be disastrous for county vocational schools and regular high schools that rely on federal funds to keep career and technical education programs on the cutting edge. Schools that combine rigorous academics with meaningful job skills are only effective if they prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow," said Adams. "Training students for yesterday’s jobs fails our students, our employers and our economy."

Students from throughout the state were present at the State House on Thursday to mark Career and Technical Education Week (Feb. 12 - 19).

Showing strong bipartisan support for career and technical education, budget committee leaders from both political parties attended the press conference. Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald (D-District 6), chair of the Assembly budget committee, and Assemblyman Joseph R. Malone III (R-District 30), minority budget officer and member of the Assembly education committee, spoke to students about the need for adequate funding.

In his budget request sent to Congress last week, the President recommended that all federal funding under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act be cut from the Fiscal Year 2007 budget and used instead for a broad high school reform initiative.

After a similar move last year by the President, Congress spoke with a unified voice in preserving those funds.

Last year, New Jersey received $24.7 million in Perkins funds, helping fund vocational and technical education for high school and post-secondary students enrolled in county vocational schools, regular high schools, and community colleges. More than 106,000 high school students and 56,000 post-secondary students are enrolled in programs funded through the Perkins Act.

The New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools is the statewide association of the 21 county vocational-technical school superintendents and board of education members. The county vocational-technical schools serve approximately 85,000 secondary and adult students.

"In New Jersey, our county vocational-technical schools are considered models of high school reform. By combining demanding academics with hands-on career training, our schools have changed the high school experience for thousands of students by making it meaningful, relevant, and even fun," Adams said. "Our success is evident in the achievement of our students – on standardized tests, in college, and on the job."

"I don't disagree with the President's desire to improve high schools to better prepare all students for work or further study; But to do so at the expense of those schools who are recognized as blazing the trail in school reform is short-sighted," he said.

CONTACT: Wendi Patella, 609-392-6222