Forsyth County Schools Advocates for CTE at National Policy Seminar

Forsyth County Schools traveled to Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. this week as part of the Georgia delegation at the 2026 Association for Career and Technical Education National Policy Seminar, a gathering of CTE professionals from across the country designed to shape national career and technical education policies, advocate for stronger programs, and connect with key decision-makers.

The seminar included dedicated time on Capitol Hill to meet with legislators and advocate for CTE programs within attendees' home states. The 2026 event carried a milestone theme, marking what organizers called "Celebrating 100 Years of CTE Advocacy," a century of national effort to secure federal recognition and resources for career-focused instruction in American schools.

The program opened Sunday, March 22, with a full-day State Association Leadership Training running from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., followed by advocacy breakout sessions and a first-timer orientation. A midday session on key federal legislative issues brought together Tom Kelly, Policy Director for the Education Commission of the States, and Autumn Rivera, Senior Policy Specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures, with Advance CTE Executive Director Kate Kreamer moderating. That session delivered what organizers described as "an in-depth overview of the federal policy environment and a legislative update" covering the congressional agenda and how state-level leaders can drive policy outcomes.

A separate panel drew on deep institutional experience in CTE policy, featuring ACTE Deputy Executive Director Stephen DeWitt alongside former Hill staff and Administration officials Hans Meeder and Jane Oates, with ACTE Chief Policy, Research and Content Officer Alisha Hyslop moderating. The panel examined historical shifts in how lawmakers and the public perceive CTE, and how those changing perceptions should shape future advocacy priorities.

Among the afternoon breakout sessions was "Crafting the CTE Narrative: Tips and Tools for Modern Advocacy," in which Dr. Mark Covelle of the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology addressed how educators can use proactive storytelling to counter shifting narratives about career and technical education.

Forsyth County's CTAE program seeks to provide an ongoing partnership between education and business and industry to prepare students with the skills necessary to meet world-class standards and enter the marketplace as productive citizens. A career pathway in Georgia is defined as a coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career-related courses leading to an industry-recognized certificate, licensure, and possible post-secondary credit, assisting students in their transition to the workforce, military, or post-secondary education. That framework, and the federal funding that supports it, sits at the center of what the Forsyth delegation went to Washington to protect.

The ACTE National Policy Seminar provides an opportunity to learn the basics of influencing federal decision makers, specifically on legislation related to career and technical education. For Forsyth County Schools, the trip represents a direct line between decisions made in congressional offices and the courses, labs, and internship placements available to students across the county's high school campuses.