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
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.
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.