Bill Nelson comes to Citrus

United States Senator Bill Nelson from are our state of Florida met with Elected Officials on Tuesday, August 25th, 2011 at Inverness City Hall. Chronicle Reporter Mike Wright (in background) was covering the event.

I told the Senator that my wife, Thomasine, was more excited for me to meet him because he is an Astronaut (he flew on the 1986 Columbia Space shuttle mission) than because he is a Senator. The Senator offered a big smile when I said that and responded, “She sounds she is a kid at heart.”

Prior to this day’s meeting with Senator Nelson I had the pleasure of spending some quality one on one time with the Senator’s Regional Director, Digna Alvarez sharing about my concerns for students that may not immediately attend a college or university after high school.  I explained that I believe our state and national legislative leaders are taking an approach to education of “one size fits all” which is unfortunate and incorrect. They are directing resources in education in only one direction-one that assumes all students must go to college.

I followed by asking the Senator, “how are we as a school district, as a state, and as a nation supporting and developing educational programs and pathways that guide students whose interests are in career and technical education?”  For example:

• The National Educational Agenda, reflected in Race to the Top reforms, promotes the doubling of the number of students entering college with very minimal reference to vocational/career/technical.

• Stimulus and AARA funding supports college readiness, including Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM), but little seems to be directed to career and technical (college-bound career & technical students).

• Florida School Accountability (high school) emphasizes college readiness including participation & performance in dual enrollment classes, Advanced Placement classes, International Baccalaureate classes, and industry certification classes. The latter is the only reference to career and technical education.

• In Florida, Perkins Career & Technical Education Act funds vocational programs; funding is being reduced and being attacked.

I encouraged the Senator as well you to read this transcript of the April 19th, 2011 speech, “Rigor, Relevance, and the Future of Career and Technical Education” from Education Secretary Arne Duncan who noted the grave implications for Career and Technical Education. (CLICK HERE TO READ SPEECH)

I am asking Senator Nelson to join the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus who is a a bi-partisan group of Members of Congress created to enhance awareness in Congress of the importance of career and technical education in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce in America.

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