Bill to Expand Access to Career and Technical Education Earns Unanimous Committee Support

LD 1764 would ensure schools across Maine can offer CTE programming

AUGUSTA – In a unanimous vote, the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee Friday advanced LD 1764, sponsored by Speaker Ryan D. Fecteau (D-Biddeford), to the full Legislature. The bill would adjust instructor-to-student ratios to make sure all Maine students have the option of taking a Career and Technical Education program if they so choose.

“Career and technical education programs are an important option that every Maine student should be able to access,” said Speaker Ryan Fecteau. “I am grateful for the committee’s unanimous, bipartisan support of my bill to ensure all Maine schools can offer programs that set young people up for well-paying, in-demand jobs in our workforce.”

LD 1764 proposes to adjust the instructor-to-student ratio for CTE centers and regions with fewer than 1,000 students, from 13:1 to 8:1. The current 13:1 ratio can be a hardship for programs located in rural areas of the state and in some cases can result in the loss of CTE programming.

“Technical Trade schools are being viewed as a necessity for the future of our communities and our country,” said Representative Tiffany Strout (R-Harrington), who cosponsored the bill. “I appreciate the committee’s strong support for these programs across the state and especially in Washington County. These programs give students hands-on trade experience, keep them in school, keep them involved in their community, keep them away from drugs, and offer them an opportunity for success in their futures.”

"The committee’s unanimous support is a recognition that CTE is a critical educational pathway for Maine students," said Kevin Lavoie, St. John Valley Tech Center Director and board member of Maine Administrators of Career and Technical Education. "Education at a Maine CTE Center offers hands-on, nationally recognized programs that equip students with the skills and knowledge they need for academic success and real-world opportunities. This bill will ensure that students anywhere in Maine can access CTE programs, pursue their passions, and prepare themselves for rewarding careers."

The bill will head to the House and Senate for additional votes in the coming weeks.

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