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National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium

Founded in 1920, the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) is the Washington D.C.-based professional society of the state and territory agency heads responsible for career technical education. The association has a growing membership of more than 200 senior state staff and concerned individuals who share the state directors’ commitment to quality career technical education at the secondary, postsecondary and adult levels.

The Washington, D.C., headquarters office was established in 1987 specifically to influence the reauthorization of the Carl Perkins Act. At that time the association adopted a strategic plan. In response to changing times, the board adopted a new vision, mission and goals in fall 2000.

Vision, Mission and Goals

Vision: NASDCTEc is the leader in shaping the future of career technical education.

Mission: To provide leadership for career technical education’s role in economic development, educational improvement and workforce development for the twenty-first century.

Goals:

• support states as they connect career technical education to economic development, educational improvement and workforce development;

• advance and improve career technical education by collaborating with business, labor, education and other organizations with complementing interests;

• inform national legislation and policy for an effective system of career technical education that includes strong state leadership and adequate fiscal support;

• provide leadership for a strong system of accountability for career technical education;

• increase the supply and strengthen the quality of those who administer and deliver career technical education;

• strengthen state-level leadership for career technical education; and

• recognize and celebrate outstanding programs, individuals and organizations to encourage excellence in career technical education.

Board of Directors

NASDCTEc leadership is provided through its board of directors. The board is composed of 16 members: one member for each of the 11 regions, one associate member representative and four officers (president, vice president, secretary/treasurer and past president).

Committees

NASDCTEc committees are where the work of the association is done. They provide forums for feedback, guidance and information exchange on issues of concern to the association. Active member involvement is critical to NASDCTEc’s success, and the association’s committee participation is noteworthy.

The association has standing committees that work throughout the year to guide the association’s activities and ensure member participation. Currently there are eight standing committees: Legislative, Professional Development, Teacher Education, Accountability, Partnership, Post Secondary Research, and Awards. All committees are open to members, and members need not be appointed to serve.

Professional Development

NASDCTEc hosts two national conferences each year; a spring conference is traditionally held in Washington, D.C., and a fall conference is held in September at a location the board chooses. These conferences provide information on research, legislation and emerging issues important to career technical education. Moreover, they provide networking and sharing opportunities and updates on partnership activities with the economic development, workforce development and education reform communities.

Member Services

NASDCTEc members enjoy the timely receipt of information on issues, events and legislation that impact career technical education. Its web page is a good source for information. In addition, the association has an active listserv for state directors. The listserv is a useful tool for sharing information, informal surveys, etc. NASDCTEc also publishes monthly E-lerts, which are electronic newsletters containing information on issues, activities, etc. of interest to those in the career technical education community.

Policy Development and Alliance Formation

NASDCTEc is a key resource in providing information on developing legislation and the ever-turbulent budget and appropriations situation. Frequent legislative updates are e-mailed to members as the action occurs.

NASDCTEc represents the state directors with Congress, the administration, other affiliated associations and the national press. It aims to promote a strong state role for career technical education and to continue to expand federal funding for career technical education. In addition, the association publishes reference documents and conducts surveys as the need arises.

For more information, contact:

Kimberly Green, Executive Director, National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium, The Hall of States, 444 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 830, Washington, D.C. 20001. 202-737-0303 (phone), 202-737-1106 (fax), kgreen@nasdvtec.org (e-mail), www.careertech.org (Web site).