Career and Technical Education Focus

House Republican members are committed to rebuilding a Pennsylvania as an economic leader, a competitor among states for job and career growth… a place young adults find inviting.  

Improving the career and technical education (CTE) opportunities in Pennsylvania will help prepare students and workers for the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow.

Through the findings of the Select Subcommittee on Technical Education and Career Readiness, which was created to study and review the commonwealth’s career and technical education policy, the House Education Committee prepared a package of bills to ensure the state’s workforce is prepared to meet the needs of evolving business communities. 

To understand the depth of the issue and vet possible solutions, the committee held hearings across the Commonwealth to carefully evaluate the educational approach to CTE in Pennsylvania. As a result of the hearings and meeting of the subcommittee, these bills were developed to help better promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.  

Details on the bipartisan House Career and Technical Education Package

Provide Tax Credits to Support CTE-Related Opportunities (Tobash) – HB 2156
• Promotes public-private partnerships by allowing tax credits for donations aimed at promoting educational opportunities to fill workforce needs.  Allows for equipment purchases, scholarships for career training programs and apprenticeship training.

Reform Career and Technical Teacher Certification Requirements (Bloom) – HB 2155
• Removes barriers for qualified career and technical educators by streamlining requirements, reducing the amount of credit hours and increasing the amount of professional experience.  

Increase Awareness of Workforce Needs and Opportunities (Mako) – HB 2158
• Requires the Department to develop and schools to distribute materials outlining workforce needs including training opportunities and future earning potential.  In addition, schools will allow for community colleges and other technical and/or trade schools to attend career/college fairs. 

Increase Flexibility for Innovative Secondary Career and Technical Programs (Grove) – HB 2157
• Expedites and simplifies the process by which new programs are approved which allows training to keep up with regional workforce needs.
• Increase awareness of how to incorporate STEM activities into CTE programs, allowing students to receive credit for their participation.

Enhance and Promote Articulation Agreements Across the Commonwealth (Staats) – HB 2159
• Repurposes the Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee (TAOC) to oversee, maintain and update an online tool for students which includes all courses with articulation agreements between secondary and post-secondary schools as well as between post-secondary institutions.  

Develop and Maintain a Comprehensive Online Career Resource Center (Harkins) – HB 2203
• Create an online one-stop-shop, overseen by Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, for students, parents, educators, and school officials to provide information about the value and impact of CTE, career pathways, data and statistics on employment opportunities and compensation, and postsecondary options and statewide and regional articulation agreements.

Coordinate State-Level Career Exploration and Workforce Development Opportunities (Mullery) – HB 2204
• Encourage the Department of Education and the Department of Labor and Industry to conduct a complete inventory of existing workforce development programs at both the secondary and postsecondary levels with emphasis on opportunities for business-education partnerships and share best practices with these entities.

Improve Local and Occupational Advisory Committee Structure and Operation (Roebuck) – HB 2206
• Create occupational advisory committees for programs or clusters of programs to be established at the Intermediate Unit level to serve multiple school districts or CTCs to reduce the burden on local industry and school entities.

Add K-12 CTE Members to Workforce Development Board (WDB) Membership (Roebuck) – HB 2205
• Require local WDBs to include administrators of career and technical centers whose attendance area is covered by the service area of the WDB or representatives appointed from a local school district.