WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday that would strengthen career counseling services and financial literacy in schools across the nation.
Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., co-chairs of the Congressional Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, introduced the Counseling for Career Choice Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand K-12 career counseling services, providing more resources focused on financial literacy, registered apprenticeships, dual enrollment programs, internships, and even financing for college or other postsecondary education.
“Empowering students with the tools to succeed starts with making well-informed decisions,” Thompson said. “By equipping school counselors with the resources and training they need, we can help close our nation’s skills gap and put learners of all ages in the driver’s seat of their futures.”
Bonamici agreed.
“For students to thrive, they need information about all of the available career and education opportunities,” Bonamici said. “The Counseling for Career Choice Act invests in school counseling to help more students get information and advice about the range of options for their future. I’m pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleague Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson.”
Officials with the Association for Career and Technical Education, a national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers, lauded the representatives for their work on the bill.
“When we provide school counselors and career development professionals with adequate support, we enable them to create a strong network where students and their families can access financial aid assistance, personal counseling, academic advising and other fundamental resources to make informed decisions about their futures,” said ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Curry. “These services are essential to career and technical education as these professionals help students to identify the various career pathways they can explore and follow to ensure future success.”
Advance CTE, a national non-profit that represents the state CTE directors and state leaders of career and technical education, is supporting the bill as well.
“Informed career advising is essential for learners of all backgrounds to navigate postsecondary and career success, including opportunities to participate in Career Technical Education,” said Kate Kreamer, executive director for Advance CTE. “The Counseling for Career Choice Act would greatly expand the career development and navigation supports offered through the federal investment in well-rounded educational experiences. Advance CTE is pleased to endorse this legislation and applauds its introduction.”
The Counseling for Career Choice Act is also supported by the National Career Development Association (NCDA), the American School Counselors Association, the School Superintendents Association (AASA), and the American Counseling Association.
