Committee approves millions for adult education, technical colleges and federal grant authority for CTE division

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 11 approved additional spending authority for the Division of Career Technical Education (CTE) that includes federal grant authority and general fund investments for adult education and technical colleges.

Senator Woodward moved to add $2,273,700 in federal spending authority and proposed $50,000,000 one-time general funds for adult education and literacy-related programs, plus $10,000,000 ongoing general fund trustee and benefit payments to the postsecondary program for distribution to technical colleges. The committee recorded the motion as an increase of $10,050,000 from the general fund and $2,273,700 in federal funds in the summary readback; the motion carried and the bill received a do-pass recommendation.

Committee staff presented language accompanying the appropriation. The language describes allowable uses of the funds, requests a five-year report on outcomes of adult education and literacy investments, provides exemptions from object-transfer limitations for several CTE programs, and imposes conditions, limitations and restrictions on reappropriations.

The motion was seconded by Representative Miller. After the vote the committee adopted the statutory language; Senator Woodward obtained unanimous consent for the language to accompany the bill.

The approved funding and the reporting requirement aim to expand adult education and literacy services and to direct resources to technical colleges to address workforce needs. Doctor Campbell summarized the division's role in supporting secondary and postsecondary CTE and student and educator supports before the vote.