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Reston, VA — February 5, 2026 — The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) announced today that its Board of Directors has formally adopted two legislative priorities and corresponding position statements aimed at strengthening the nation’s Technology and Engineering Education, STEM Education, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) workforce pipeline.
Approved on January 19, 2026, these priorities reinforce ITEEA’s commitment to ensuring that every learner has access to high‑quality, future‑ready technology and engineering learning experiences—and that educators have the support they need to deliver them.
Priority 1: Increase Federal, State, and Local Investments in Technology and Engineering Education and STEM Education as forms of CTE
ITEEA calls for robust, sustained investment in Technology and Engineering Education and STEM Education through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) and related federal programs. Although Perkins funding reached $1.47 billion in FY25, this amount remains hundreds of millions below inflation‑adjusted levels from two decades ago. In many states and localities, Perkins funds can already support Technology and Engineering Education and STEM Education; where this is not yet possible, ITEEA urges the passing of legislation and policies that enable Perkins funding to be utilized for high‑quality Technology and Engineering Education and STEM Education as a form of CTE.
Increasing the Perkins Basic State Grant program in FY26 would strengthen educational opportunities for students in every congressional district by expanding access to rigorous curriculum, work‑based learning, industry‑recognized credentials, and high‑quality teacher preparation and professional development. ITEEA also reaffirms its support for complementary federal programs that fuel innovation and strengthen the teacher pipeline, including NSF’s STEM Education Directorate, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and the CHIPS and Science Act.
Priority 2: Support Recruitment, Preparation, and Retention of Technology, Engineering, STEM, and CTE Educators
With educator shortages occurring nationwide, ITEEA urges policymakers to adopt measures that reverse declining teacher pipelines and elevate the profession. These include:
- Making teaching more financially competitive through new incentives
- Designating Technology and Engineering Education as a ”High Need” field
- Expanding access to high‑quality teacher preparation and professional development
- Reducing barriers through policies such as interstate licensure reciprocity
- Increasing support for postsecondary teacher education programs
View ITEEA’s Priority Issues and complete Position Statements here.
How to Take Action
To support educators, administrators, and partners in advocating for these priorities, ITEEA encourages the following steps to stay informed, leverage ITEEA’s position statements, and amplify the advocacy efforts of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE):
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Stay informed by regularly monitoring or subscribing to ACTE’s CTE Policy Watch blog to track federal updates and emerging issues.
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Engage with policymakers by contacting your legislators through ACTE’s Action Center and urging them to take action on relevant legislation aligned to ITEEA priorities.
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Participate in advocacy events, including ACTE’s National Policy Seminar each March, to receive policy briefings, strengthen advocacy skills, and meet directly with congressional offices.
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