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Members of the America Forward Coalition issued the following statement on the passage and signing of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act:

“Members of the America Forward Coalition applaud the U.S. Congress and President Trump for approving and signing H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act. Introduced and passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, this important piece of legislation will make critical updates to career and technical education (CTE) and help ensure that students and workers are equipped with knowledge and skills needed to prepare for college and to compete and thrive in the 21st-century economy.

The legislation embraces the important role of evidence-based innovations and cross-sector partnerships in improving CTE program quality and ensuring these programs are meeting the unique workforce needs of communities throughout the country. The inclusion of innovative concepts and practices such as dual or concurrent enrollment and work-based learning are integral for improving student outcomes and aligning our secondary, post-secondary and workforce development systems.

Additionally, we are pleased with the inclusion of an innovation fund and the use of Pay for Success contracting in the bill, which will bring a greater focus on outcomes and evidence in the CTE space.

We commend Congressional leaders and the President for their efforts and leadership to support evidence-based policies such as those included in this bill.”

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The America Forward Coalition is a network of more than 70 social innovation organizations that champion innovative, effective, and efficient solutions to our country’s most pressing social problems. Our Coalition members are achieving measurable outcomes in more than 14,500 communities nationwide, touching the lives of 8 million Americans each year, and driving progress in education, workforce development, early learning, poverty alleviation, public health, Pay for Success/Pay for Outcomes, social innovation, national service, and criminal justice reform. Since 2007, America Forward’s community of entrepreneurs has played a leading role in driving the national dialogue on social innovation and advocating for lasting policy change.

For more on America Forward, please visit www.americaforward.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.