S. 3083Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Career and Technical Education for Adult Learners Act of 2018

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 10:28 PM UTC

The Career and Technical Education for Adult Learners Act of 2018 amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to explicitly include adult education. It adds definitions, performance measures, and funding provisions so that adult learners can receive career and technical training, earn industry‑recognized credentials, and participate in work‑based experiences. The changes affect state education agencies, local education agencies, and any programs that receive Perkins funding.

Key Provisions

Adds “adult education” and “adult education programs” to the Perkins Act’s purpose and definition sections, referencing the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act.
Creates a new definition for “integrated education and training” that combines adult education with career and technical courses leading to credentials.
Requires state plans to include the State director of adult education and to address adult education in funding and program requirements.
Mandates that eligible agencies identify core performance indicators for adult CTE students, including skill proficiency and alignment with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act metrics.
Allows Perkins funds to support internships, apprenticeships, cooperative education, and other work experiences for adult learners.
Calls for alignment of CTE programs with industry or sector partnerships and specifies how funds may be used for those partnerships.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3984)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

June 18, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 18, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3984)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

June 18, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 3083 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Jun 18, 2018

Mr. President, I am proud to reintroduce the Career and Technical Education for Adult Learners or the CTE for All Act with my colleague, Senator Baldwin. Our legislation addresses the critical need…

Mr. President, I am proud to reintroduce the Career and Technical Education for Adult Learners or the CTE for All Act with my colleague, Senator Baldwin.

Our legislation addresses the critical need to expand educational opportunities for working adults with low academic skills. The need for strengthening the skills base for working adults continues to grow. Increasingly, middle-skill and sustainable wage jobs require education beyond high school. Yet, according to U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey data, 12 percent (24 million) of working age adults have less than a high school diploma. Recent Department of Education data show that only 5 percent of adults with less than a high school diploma have any type of postsecondary certificate, certification, or license compared to 27 percent of adults overall. Moreover, an estimated 36 million adults in the U.S. have low skills with nearly one in six having low literacy skills and one in three having low numeracy skills.

Our ability to grow the economy and decrease income inequality will depend, in large part, on our commitment to providing education and training programs to low-skilled adults. These workers are concentrated in fields such as construction, health care, manufacturing, and hospitality. Expanding career and technical education opportunities to these workers could enhance their career trajectories and strengthen their earning potential, fueling economic productivity and growth for the future. Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Department of Education, roughly half of low-skilled workers are not engaged in formal or non-formal learning opportunities. The CTE for All Act aims to change that by ensuring that there are pathways for adult learners in career and technical education programs.

Specifically, our legislation will ensure that programs funded under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act align with adult education programs and industry sector partnerships authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The CTE for All Act requires consultation with the state director for adult education in the development of the statewide plan for career and technical education. The bill calls for career and technical education programs to include low-skilled adults among the special populations targeted for outreach and support and allows states to report separate performance indicators for adult career and technical education students. The legislation makes adult education providers that offer integrated education and training programs eligible to receive career and technical education funding. Additionally, the legislation encourages career and technical education programs to include work experiences for their students of all ages.

We have worked with the adult education community and other stakeholders in developing this legislation. We are pleased to have the support of the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education, the Commission on Adult Basic Education, the National Skills Coalition, and the National Coalition for Literacy.

As a Nation, we are at our best when every person--no matter their starting point--has the opportunity to develop their skills and reach their potential. The CTE for All Act will strengthen the ladder of opportunity for adult learners who work hard every day to provide for their families. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and work with us to include these provisions in the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Jun 18, 2018

Mr. President, I am proud to reintroduce the Career and Technical Education for Adult Learners or the CTE for All Act with my colleague, Senator Baldwin.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 18, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3083

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 18, 2018

Mr. Reed (for himself and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to improve career and technical education opportunities for adult learners, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Career and Technical Education for Adult Learners Act of 2018.

Purpose

Section 2 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2), by inserting , adult education, after secondary education; and

(2)

in paragraph (6), by inserting adult education programs, after secondary schools,.

Definitions

Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (29), (30), (31), (32), (33), and (34), as paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (29), (30), (31), (32), (33), (34), (35), and (36), respectively;

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

Adult education; adult education and literacy activities

The terms adult education and adult education and literacy activities have the meanings given the terms in section 203 of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act.

;

(3)

in paragraph (14), as redesignated by paragraph (1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (E), by striking or after the semicolon;

(B)

by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); and

(C)

by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:

(F)

a provider of adult education that offers a program of integrated education and training that includes career and technical education courses that lead to technical skill proficiency, and an industry-recognized credential or a certificate; or

;

(4)

by inserting after paragraph (19), as redesignated by paragraph (1), the following:

(20)

Integrated education and training

The term integrated education and training has the meaning given the term in section 203 of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act.

; and

(5)

in paragraph (31), as redesignated by paragraph (1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (E), by striking and after the semicolon;

(B)

in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(G)

individuals who are basic skills deficient, as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Accountability

Section 113(b)(2) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2323(b)(2)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and (F), as subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and (G), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

(C)

Core indicators of performance for career and technical education students at the adult education level

Each eligible agency may identify in the State plan core indicators of performance for career and technical education students at the adult education level that are valid and reliable, and that include, at minimum, measures of each of the following:

(i)

Student attainment of challenging career and technical skill proficiency, including student achievement on technical assessments that are aligned with industry-recognized standards, if available and appropriate.

(ii)

The eligibly entity’s performance on the indicators of performance described in section 116(b)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

State plan

Section 122 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(1)(A)—

(A)

in clause (xi), by striking and after the semicolon; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(xiii)

the State director of adult education; and

; and

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting , adult education programs, after local educational agencies;

(II)

in clause (i), by inserting , adult education, after secondary education;

(III)

in clause (iii), by striking and after the semicolon;

(IV)

in clause (iv), by inserting and after the semicolon; and

(V)

by adding at the end the following:

(v)

may include internships, cooperative education, apprenticeships, or other work experiences, such as those described in section 129(c)(2)(C) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;

;

(ii)

in subparagraph (C), by inserting , adult education, after secondary education;

(iii)

in subparagraph (E), by inserting , adult, after secondary; and

(iv)

in subparagraph (K), by inserting , adult education level, after secondary level;

(B)

in paragraph (2)(G), by inserting , the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, after Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

(C)

in paragraph (19), by striking and after the semicolon;

(D)

in paragraph (20), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(E)

by adding at the end the following:

(21)

describes how funds will be used to support work experiences for students in career and technical education; and

(22)

describes how career and technical education programs are aligned with any industry or sector partnerships, as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

State leadership activities

Section 124 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(3)(E), by inserting , the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, after Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting , adult education, after secondary;

(B)

in paragraph (2), by inserting , adult education, after secondary school;

(C)

in paragraph (16)(B), by striking and after the semicolon;

(D)

in paragraph (17), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(E)

by adding at the end the following:

(18)

support for work experiences for career and technical education students such as internships, cooperative education, and apprenticeships.

Local plan for career and technical education programs

Section 134(b) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (11), by striking and after the semicolon;

(2)

in paragraph (12)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(13)

describe how funds will be used to support work experiences for students in career and technical education programs, such as internships, cooperative education, apprenticeships, or other work experiences, such as those described in section 129(c)(2)(C) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; and

(14)

describe how career and technical education programs are aligned with any industry or sector partnerships, as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.