Can't afford to cut career, tech funding

In the next decade, a large percentage of jobs in Illinois - 41 percent - will be at the "middle skill" level, requiring more education than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor's degree. What are these middle skills jobs? They come in a wide range of industries and occupations including engineering technicians, health care professionals (nurses, dental hygienists, radiologic technicians, etc.), paralegals, automotive technicians, first-line construction managers, heating and air conditioning repairers and many more, offering annual salaries than can reach as much as $70,000.

Community colleges are a major pathway to these occupations. But despite the real opportunities that will emerge in the economy for these middle skill jobs, significant obstacles must be overcome to ensure students can access them. Academic programs must be kept current to meet evolving industry needs. High school and college dropout rates must be lowered. Students must be better prepared for the academic requirements of knowledge-based mid-level skill jobs.

State and federal programs like Career and Technical Education Information (CTEI), the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act and Partnership for College and Career Success (formerly Tech Prep) are important to overcoming these obstacles. These programs fund initiatives to develop and revise curriculum, provide professional development for faculty and purchase equipment and software vital to ensuring that career programs remain current and match real-world business and industry needs. Additionally, these programs also provide an important source of funding for services to students aimed at increasing graduation rates, reducing dropout rates and enabling a seamless transition from high school to college.

This year, Illinois high schools and community colleges will receive $105.7 million in state and federal funding for career and technical education programs. This funding is critical to maintaining quality academic programs to prepare students for careers that can support a middle-class lifestyle. But despite the importance of these programs, funding for them has been on the chopping block. During budget deliberations for the current fiscal year, state funding for the CTEI program was threatened with total elimination. The funding was only restored to last year's levels because the cut would have resulted in Illinois losing an additional $48.9 million in federal funds for career and technical education. The threat for drastic cuts still looms large for next year, as the state faces an even more dire revenue picture.

As the governor and legislators begin next year's difficult budget deliberations, the Illinois Community College Trustees Association will strongly urge them to keep career and technical education as strong priorities. Given the importance of mid-skills jobs to our state's students and economy, we cannot afford cuts in these vital programs.

Barbara D. Oilschlager

President

Illinois Community College Trustees Association

Vice Chairman

College of Lake County board of trustees