Federal Legislation Creates Interagency Realignment for CTE & Adult Education
This July, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Department of Labor (DOL) announced a federal realignment of control over key workforce programs, shifting administration of Perkins V and WIOA Title II (adult education/family literacy programs) from ED’s OCTAE to DOL’s Employment and Training Administration.
The move is anchored in an Interagency Agreement (IAA) signed in May, paused briefly by a court injunction, then pushed forward after a Supreme Court stay—clearing the way for implementation despite lingering concerns.
Under the IAA, ED will retain nominal policy authority, while DOL assumes day-to-day management, including competitions, technical assistance, and program integration—raising questions about whether this amounts to a bureaucratic merger rather than a true collaboration.
Why This Matters for STEM & CTE Educators
Little is known about this change, even as the IAA was signed back in May. Who provided input for this decision? How will this impact the wide variety of implementations for states and local educational offices politically, legally, and financially?
Advance CTE and other organizations remain concerned that the shift may conflict with Perkins V law and undermine educational intent, turning comprehensive CTE into narrow job training programs. In addition, as of mid-July, nearly $7 billion in education funding – including adult ed funds – remained frozen, with growing bipartisan pressure in Congress to release those funds. In the meantime, details such as timing, stakeholder communications, and state guidance remain under development.
STEM Educator Initiative: What We All Need to Do!
Prepare for operational shifts: Build awareness among state and district teams about new reporting, planning, and technical assistance structures.
Advocate for educational integrity: Ensure STEM‐CTE programs maintain their depth and focus on high‑quality learning—not just workforce up‑skilling.
Track congressional actions through state and federal public policy organizations such as Advance CTE.
Funding releases and potential legislative pushback could directly impact program delivery and resource flow.
In Summary
The ED–DOL IAA marks a pivotal shift in how Perkins and adult education programs are administered—offering potential gains, but lingering questions about alignment with CTE’s educational mission, paused funding, and implementation timelines suggest close attention is needed by us all.
If you're a CTE leader in Pennsylvania and would like to join the conversation in our online PA CTE community, email us at info@stemeducatorinitiative.org. Whether you want to share how these changes may impact your school or discuss concerns, we’d love to connect you.