Contact:
Krysta West
Communications Director
Senate Republican Office
(207) 287-1505
krysta.west@legislature.maine.gov

AUGUSTA – Senator David Woodsome (R-York) and Representative Heidi Sampson (R-Alfred) have sponsored LD 161, “An Act To Increase Access to Career and Technical Education.”

Last session, the 128th Legislature passed legislation to provide funding to allow access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) for middle school students. This session, Woodsome and Sampson would like to further increase access to CTE with LD 161.

“CTE provides students with an alternative path to learn new skills and prove themselves while receiving valuable training and certifications that improve their employability directly out of high school,” Woodsome said. “The skills that are learned in CTE are vital for the future of Maine’s skilled workforce, as industry struggles to find enough employees to fill high-skill, high-wage positions that don’t require a four-year degree. It is my hope that these programs continue to enjoy bipartisan support so all Maine students who would like to take this route have access to CTE.”

Sampson said, “Due to the success of the economic policies from the LePage administration, we now have more high-quality, high-paying jobs than we can fill. We must provide an avenue whereby young adults have the opportunity to develop skills needed to attain these positions. This is truly an investment in our state’s future. The opportunities provided through CTE are a student’s best option for graduating without the burden of student debt.”

LD 161 has been referred to the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee for consideration.

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