White House Releases Workforce Development Playbook

The White House and U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) have released a playbook identifying key evidence-based workforce development strategies that state and local governments—leveraging support from the American Rescue Plan’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) program—are using to strengthen their workforces, grow their economies, and address barriers for underserved workers. The playbook highlights nine successful state and local case studies, ranging from creating union registered apprenticeships for underserved workers, expanding registered apprenticeship programs, investing in community colleges, and providing supportive services—are developing the skilled, diverse workforce state and local governments can use to connect workers with good-paying jobs from the Investing in America agenda. Of particular note to the MSSC Community is the White House's highlight of Ivy Tech's (Indiana) inclusion of Amatrol Skill Bosses in their Industry 4.0 Lab. Access the full playbook here.

OCTAE Releases New Perkins Program Memo

The Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) released a memo outlining critical policy levers that states could consider through the Perkins V state planning process. This non-regulatory guidance memo could inform state decision-making as they update their Perkins plans this school year. The memo can be found here.

DOL Releases Latest Projected Openings in Manufacturing

Manufacturing was responsible for about 15% of the US economy’s output in 2022. For those interested in a manufacturing career, there’s good news. From 2022 to 2032, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects thousands of openings each year, despite limited employment growth, in occupations that are employed primarily in manufacturing. More information can be found here.

US Education Department Releases 2021-22 Perkins Data

The Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education has released an update to its Perkins Data Explorer with enrollment and performance data for the 2021-22 school year. Career and technical education (CTE) practitioners and researchers can use this data to better understand CTE student outcomes nationwide and in their states. Find state data here.

Department of Commerce Designates Multiple Tech Hubs Across America

The Department of Commerce announced the designation of 31 Tech Hub locations across the nation as a part of an economic development initiative designed to drive innovation and job creation by strengthening each region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy technology. The Tech Hubs will be located across 32 states and Puerto Rico representing a cross-section of urban and rural regions to invest directly into burgeoning, high-potential U.S. regions to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers. More info can be found here.

House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on Community Colleges and Apprenticeships

The House Oversight Committee’s subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs held the hearing titled, “The Power of Apprenticeships: Faster, Better Paths to Prosperous Jobs and Less Waste in Higher Education.” This hearing discussed ways to draw more youth into exploring career options through CTE, apprenticeships and other work-based learning models. You can watch the hearing here.

Elon Musk Praises Manufacturing & Urges for Higher Appreciation

In an October 31 interview for the Joe Rogan Experience show, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that the public needs to have a much better appreciation of the value of manufacturing and underlined the complexity of the production process. A few excerpts:

• The hard part, by far, is manufacturing, not designing a car. There is not really a movie about that, but there should be.
• The manufacturing process is somewhere between a hundred and a thousand times harder than making a prototype. 
• The production line will move as fast as the slowest, least lucky, and most foolish part of the entire production line. And there are ten thousand things that have to go right for production to work. 
• The reason why politicians try really hard to get a factory in their area is because it is a massive generator of jobs. 

For a full text of Musk’s remarks, see here.

Department of Education Releases Additional Rules on Accountability for Colleges and Consumer Protection for Students

ED announced final regulations that aim to strengthen ED’s ability to protect students and taxpayers from the negative effects of sudden college closures and require institutions to communicate more clearly about the financial aid each student will receive, among other things. This new set of rules is set to go into effect July 1, 2024.  More info can be found here.

New Dual Enrollment Research Fund Opens Call for Proposals

The Dual Enrollment Research Fund has announced that it is looking for applications for a grant of at least $1 million aimed at supporting research that expands and deepens the body of knowledge and evidence on dual enrollment as a tool for increasing college access and success. The initiative is seeking rigorous research projects that will answer urgent questions and directly inform the adoption of dual enrollment policies and practices to benefit students. More info can be found here.

CareerTech VISION

Hosted by the Association for Career and Technical Education

Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2023

Phoenix, AZ

Workforce Development Institute 2024: Bridges

Hosted by the American Association of Community Colleges

January 23-26, 2024

New Orleans, LA

Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) | 703-739-9000 | info@msscusa.org