Thanks so much to those of you who attended Capitol Leadership this year!  Be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s training from
September 29^th – October 2^nd 2013! 
 

If you would like to order photos from this year’s training, please visit www.lifetouchevents.com and enter the password “FCCLA2012.”  

CTE Blueprint
Check out the following links to earn more about the Administration’s Proposal for Reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act:
 

• Investing in America’s Future: A Blueprint for Transforming Career and Technical Education
  This document includes key changes from the current Perkins Act and highlights the administration’s proposal for reauthorization that will usher in a new era or rigorous, relevant, and results-driven CTE shaped by four core principles – Alignment, Collaboration, Accountability, Innovation.
• Take a look at the Two-Page Overview of the Blueprint, and print it out to share with school administrators, teachers, or elected officials that you meet with.

We want your feedback!  Read through the Blueprint, and let us know what you think.  Think specifically about ways for CTSOs to be included in the language of the Blueprint to give organizations like FCCLA an integral role in reforming Career and Technical Education.  Send your ideas to leadership@fcclainc.org   

Follow-Up!
Remember that even though Capitol Leadership has ended this year, your job as an advocate for FCCLA is just beginning!  Use these tips to continue to the cycle of advocacy at home: 

1)      Email the staffers/elected officials you met with during Capitol Leadership.  Thank them for their time, and continue to keep them updated on events that are going on in your state.  Encourage them to participate, and become a spokesperson for FCCLA and CTSOs on the national level.

2)     Utilize Social Media – Chances are, your elected officials have social media accounts.  Send them a tweet or a post on Facebook including information about what your state/chapter is doing, and be sure to remind them why supporting organizations like FCCLA is so important!

3)     Schedule visits to meet with elected officials on the local and state levels – they say all politics is local, and the same can be said for advocacy.  Start a grassroots movement by building up support for FCCLA, CTE, and CTSOs with your school board, county government, and state senators and representatives.  Engage them in the conversation and keep them informed about the great things your chapter does this year. 

4)     Check out Teen Times – There’s a great article in the September/October 2012 edition of Teen Times (pg. 8-9) that offers up several tips for advocating for FCCLA. Also, refer back the Capitol Leadership Participant Manual that you received at the training to help guide your advocacy efforts throughout the year.  Also consider participating in the Advocacy STAR Event.

Useful Links and Resources

• U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE)
  OVAE administers and coordinates programs that are related to adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and community colleges for the United States Department of Education.  Check out their OVAE Connection newsletter to get the latest news on CTE and adult education. 
   
• Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) – Policy & Advocacy
  ACTE represents the CTE field through a variety of advocacy activities that promote the value of CTE and the policies that are needed to support CTE programs.  They’ve got a great blog on policy related to CTE and lots of resources to help you continue the advocacy process.  
  
  
• Leave-Behind Infographics
  Need more copies of the leave-behind information you received at Capitol Leadership?  Click here to print out additional copies to share with elected officials on your next visit.