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This bill would make it easier for students to learn about career and technical education, or CTE, as an alternative to a 4-year college degree. It would require the Education Department to post clear public information about CTE programs, including how long they take, what they cost, and how well graduates do in finding jobs. It would also change the FAFSA form so students are shown a short statement that CTE programs can be a real option, along with a summary of CTE information and a box to acknowledge it.
- The Education Department would have to publish CTE information on its public student aid website within 60 days after the law takes effect.
- The website would need to include details on program length, cost, job results after graduation, and state-by-state opportunities for CTE and related funding.
- FAFSA applications would need to tell students early in the process that CTE programs are a possible alternative to a 4-year degree.
- Students would also see a one-page summary of the CTE information and an acknowledgment box to sign.
Official Summaries
Student Debt Alternative and CTE Awareness Act
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to disclose certain information related to career and technical education.
Specifically, the bill requires the Office of Federal Student Aid within ED to publish on its public website information on (1) career and technical education programs, including average completion time, program cost, and postgraduation employment rate; and (2) opportunities in each state to pursue these programs and obtain Perkins funding.
In addition, ED must include this information and a related acknowledgment signature box on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1641 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1641
To require the Secretary of Education to disclose information about
career and technical education and funding under the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and require FAFSA
applications to include a career and technical education
acknowledgment.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 26, 2025
Mr. Williams of Texas (for himself and Ms. Perez) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Education to disclose information about
career and technical education and funding under the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and require FAFSA
applications to include a career and technical education
acknowledgment.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Student Debt Alternative and CTE
Awareness Act''.
SEC. 2. DISCLOSURE ON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEBSITE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education (acting through the
Office of Federal Student Aid) shall--
(1) not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, publish on the public website of the Office of
Federal Student Aid of the Department of Education information
on--
(A) career and technical education programs,
including average completion time, program cost, and
post-graduation employment rate; and
(B) opportunities in each State--
(i) to pursue such programs; and
(ii) for funding to pursue such programs
under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.);
and
(2) continuously update and maintain the information
published under paragraph (1) to ensure that such information
continues to be relevant.
(b) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``career and technical
education'' and ``State'' have the meanings given the terms in section
3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2302).
SEC. 3. DISCLOSURE ON FAFSA APPLICATION.
Section 494(a)(1)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1098h(a)(1)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (i)(II), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (ii), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) career and technical education
programs (as defined in section 3 of the Carl
D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)) are a viable
alternative to a 4-year degree, and include, to
ensure such individuals are made aware of such
programs and related career paths at the
beginning of the application--
``(I) a one-page summary of the
most recent information provided under
section 2(a)(1) of the Student Debt
Alternative and CTE Awareness Act; and
``(II) an acknowledgment signature
box;''.
SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated or
otherwise made available to carry out this Act or the amendments made
by this Act.
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