Testimony Before the DC Council Committee of the Whole at the Public Hearing on Bill 25-741, Vocational Education for a New Generation Act of 2024

By Nicole Travers, DC Alliance Senior Director of School Support & Program Data

Good afternoon, Chairman Mendelson and members of the Committee. My name is Nicole Travers, and I am the Senior Director of School Support & Program Data at the DC Charter School Alliance, the local non-profit that advocates on behalf of public charter schools, to ensure every student can choose high-quality public schools that prepare them for lifelong success.

Continuing to expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities for the youth of the District of Columbia is crucial. CTE programs provide students with job skills and industry-recognized certifications. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the high school graduation rate for CTE students is 90%, compared to a national average of 75%. This shows the significant impact CTE has on students; these programs are highly engaging which improves attendance, while also equipping students with skills to navigate both academic and career pathways successfully. Students show up to school because they are excited about their carpentry, IT, or cosmetology classes.

For this reason, we thank the Council for prioritizing career and technical education pathways for DC students. We support the goals of this legislation and the focus on expanding the opportunities for DC students. 

These priorities align with the Bowser Administration’s CTE investments. We appreciate the  Mayor, the Deputy Mayor of Education, and Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) for their sustained commitment to creating CTE programs and pathways for our students. The Advanced Technical Center (ATC) allows students from many LEAs to access Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs beyond the walls of their schools. There is great anticipation for the opening of the second ATC center. The Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, along with other summer city-sponsored initiatives, offers teens hands-on experience and skills development that sets them up for the future. And lastly, the creation of the Education to Employment Data System to collect data on our graduating seniors offers a greater understanding of their paths beyond high school, allowing the city and schools to make data-informed programming decisions. We are excited to see all of this show up in OSSE’s Reimagining High School initiative that includes the Graduate Profile.  

Today, I will focus my testimony on the innovative CTE programming charter schools have in place and offer a few ways to expand on the city's existing extensive CTE initiatives to ensure a lasting impact on DC students and our economy.   

Innovative CTE Practices & Partnerships in Charter Schools

DC Charter schools are committed to equipping students with opportunities to earn certifications they need for entry-level positions in high-demand sectors in the DC area upon graduation. For example:

• Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School created strong partnerships with industry leaders to support their career training programs where students gain practical experience, earn certifications, and step directly into entry-level positions in high-demand sectors in the DC area. For example, Carlos Rosario’s nurse aide program partners with MedStar Health, one of DC’s largest employers of nurses.

• IDEA Public Charter School's collaboration with Educare DC allows students to earn practicum hours for a Child Development Associate credential while working directly with early childhood educators.

• Center City Public Charter School is launching a Makers Space that offers middle school students exposure to hands-on labs in fields like 3D design, engineering, coding, and robotics. Early career exploration like this keeps students invested in their education, as they build various vocational skills and helps address chronic absenteeism by keeping students engaged in learning that feels relevant to their future.

Recommendations for Strengthening CTE Programming In DC

While this bill offers significant potential, the following are three opportunities where the city can expand on the work:

First, we believe it is important the city finalize a comprehensive, coordinated long-term strategic plan to improve vocational education and training across the city. Building this plan as a collaboration across government agencies, businesses, and school leaders will help ensure the most effective use of resources for CTE initiatives. This plan should be developed in conjunction with OSSE’s new Graduate Profile so the profile shows the throughline to 21st century workforce skills.

Second, we recommend additional grant funding to expand CTE programs and associated staff beyond its current footprint. While we appreciate the investment the federal government has made in CTE programs through the Perkins grant, the reality is CTE programs require significant funding for facilities, equipment, and highly qualified staff. Boosting student access to industry certificates, credentials, or degrees associated with technical occupations would ensure more graduates are equipped with the necessary skills for their career aspirations. It is important that this funding come with relevant technical assistance to help schools navigate curriculum challenges, identify potential partners, and ensure their CTE offerings align with student and workforce needs.  

Lastly, students would benefit from access to additional support, like coaching, to assist them with bridging the gap from high school to career. This includes coach support for enrolling in CTE programs and assisting students in navigating the transition from earning their certifications to entering the workforce. Coach support should be coupled with refining government agency systems and processes to obtain the documentation and identification necessary to enroll in career specific programs. For example, students have faced obstacles in getting government issued ID or copies of their birth certificate.

Moving Forward

Overall, we are grateful to the Council, Mayor, Deputy Mayor for Education, and OSSE for their continued efforts to expand access to CTE programs. We look forward to collaborating on initiatives that make CTE programs even more robust and accessible, ensuring all DC students can benefit from these valuable opportunities.

Thank you for your time, and I welcome any questions you may have.