Latest news with #DepartmentOfLabor
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Advocates, lawmakers denounce CTE's proposed move to Labor Department
This story was originally published on K-12 Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily K-12 Dive newsletter. Initial efforts to move responsibility for career and technical education from the U.S. Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Labor are being met with resistance from CTE advocates and Democratic lawmakers. This response follows last month's signing of an interagency agreement that the agencies said would "promote innovation and process improvements in pursuit of better employment and earnings outcomes for program participants." The agreement, however, has been paused due to legal challenges. The planned transfer of CTE responsibilities out of the Education Department is one of several actions the Trump administration has taken to follow through on promises to dismantle the agency. The CTE interagency agreement "lays out a confusing and fragmented division of roles and responsibilities" between DOL's Employment and Training Administration and the Education Department's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, said Advance CTE, an organization of state CTE directors and related professionals, in a June 13 statement. Advance CTE and the Association for Career and Technical Education, a CTE advocacy organization, said in a June 11 joint statement that the agreement would have "far-reaching negative impacts on CTE programs and learners across the country." That's because the agreement "directly circumvents existing statutory requirements" under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, the groups said. "The Perkins Act and the CTE programs it supports are not merely job training programs; these programs are comprehensive educational and career preparation programs that prepare secondary and postsecondary learners for lifelong success by connecting academic and technical learning with the real world skills that learners need to thrive," Advance CTE and ACTE said. The interagency agreement is among the efforts paused due to ongoing litigation challenging the administration's moves to reduce the Education Department's workforce and transfer some of its responsibilities to other federal agencies. CTE advocates and other stakeholders say they only learned about the May 21 CTE interagency agreement by reading a June 10 status update issued by the Education Department as part of required legal filings. The interagency agreement was signed by Lori Bearden, acting assistant secretary of DOL's Employment and Training Administration, and Nicholas Moore, acting assistant secretary of the Education Department's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. Democratic lawmakers described any such CTE transfer as "illegal." In a June 18 letter from Democratic leaders of congressional appropriations and education committees to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the lawmakers said Congress authorized the Education Department to carry out career and technical education and adult education programming and funding. If the agencies have ideas for reforms, the lawmakers said, those would need to be presented to Congress for approval. Additionally, they said, the interagency agreement would likely lead to K-12 school systems and colleges having to work with two federal agencies, which would lead "to delays in agency decision-making and grant administration," as well as increased inefficiencies. "Respectfully, federal agencies are not interchangeable entities that simply hand out money to states and localities. Instead, each agency provides its own specific expertise in the administration of federal programs, in this case education programs," the lawmakers wrote. The Trump administration has said it is proposing reforms across federal agencies in an effort to reduce waste and duplicative programs and to increase efficiencies. The administration's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal seeks $1.5 billion for CTE state grants and national programs, a slight cut of $2.3 million compared to the FY 2024 appropriation. The new federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Recommended Reading Majority of high schoolers say they don't feel prepared for post-graduation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNET
a day ago
- Health
- CNET
Know These 4 Crucial Signs of Heatstroke and What to Do Before It's Too Late
The first heat wave of this summer is already breaking heat records across the US, with temperatures climbing higher earlier than expected. If you're spending time outdoors, whether for work or recreation, it's critical to know the risks of heat-related illness. Heatstroke, the most dangerous of them, can set in quickly and become life-threatening without warning. It doesn't just happen to athletes or people doing intense physical activity. Classic heatstroke can occur simply by being in a hot environment for too long. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, people who work outside are especially vulnerable in the first few days of exposure, because the body needs time to adapt to rising temperatures. As the heat intensifies this summer, understanding how to spot and respond to heatstroke could be the most important safety step you take. In addition to workers, heatstroke is especially common among the elderly, very young children, including babies, and in times "when we see these heat waves that go on for several days," Dr. Korin Hudson, an emergency room physician with MedStar Health, told CNET last year. People with certain medical conditions and those taking certain medications or drugs, including alcohol, may also have a higher risk of heatstroke. Here's what to know if you or someone near you starts experiencing symptoms of heatstroke. Heatstroke symptoms Sometimes, heatstroke can start with symptoms of heat exhaustion, which isn't quite as serious as heatstroke but still requires someone to cool down as quickly as possible. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which is a medical emergency. If your symptoms worsen, last more than one hour or you start vomiting, call 911. Symptoms of heatstroke, according to the Mayo Clinic and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include: Altered mental state, including confusion, agitation and slurred speech (this may also result in "odd" behavior) Headache Hot, flushed, usually dry skin (or, alternatively, heavy sweating -- if brought on by exercise, heatstroke may include moist skin) Loss of consciousness Racing heartbeat Rapid breathing Seizures Very high body temperature Vomiting Keeping hydrated by drinking enough water, both before you head outdoors and while you're out in the heat, is an important step to warding off heat illness.1. Call 911 Having heatstroke is a medical emergency that requires professional care. If there's more than one person around to aid the person suffering heatstroke, Hudson advised that one person call 911 while the other helps the person through the steps below. 2. Get to a cooler area immediately If you're around someone who has heatstroke, move them to a cooler area, such as a nearby air-conditioned room or into the shade. Either way, "try to move them out of the heat as quickly as possible," Hudson said. The goal is to cool down the body's core temperature. 3. Take off excess clothing Removing long-sleeve shirts, pants or other clothing will help a person cool down faster. Hudson said the goal is to reach "evaporative cooling," and clothing can prevent evaporation. (For people who choose to run in layers to "sweat off weight," Hudson said, you probably shouldn't. It's dangerous and can lead to heatstroke. You may consider cooling clothes that work with your body to keep you cooler and more comfortable.) 4. Hold ice, cold towels or cool water to the skin If you have something like a cold towel or a water bottle, put it on your or the other person's neck, armpits or groin. While you wait for help to arrive, you can even spray them down with cold water or put them in a cold shower -- anything to cool them off. Cold water immersion or an ice bath is one treatment for heatstroke that doctors may use at the hospital. Don't force a drink on someone experiencing heatstroke, the CDC says. This is different advice than for someone who's experiencing heat exhaustion, which typically comes before heatstroke. While someone with heat exhaustion may be given sips of water or sports drink, a person experiencing heatstroke may be confused, lose consciousness or have an altered state of consciousness. "Because they have a depressed or altered level of consciousness, it may affect their ability to swallow safely so it's probably better not to give them anything to eat or drink," Hudson said. Before and after heatstroke: Check on your neighbors Some people are more susceptible to heat illness and heatstroke, such as older adults, younger children, people with mobility issues, certain health conditions and those taking certain medications, including common drugs like blood pressure or antidepressant medications. In case of a heat wave, be especially mindful to check in with your elderly neighbor down the hall or a friend who has trouble getting around, according to Hudson. "This is the time that we really suggest people check on their neighbors," she said. "Especially in places where people don't have access to air conditioning or don't have a way to get someplace cool." "They may be feeling poorly but can't do anything about it," Hudson added.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Federal judge orders Labor Department to keep Job Corps running during lawsuit
NEW YORK — A federal judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps , a residential program for low-income youth, until a lawsuit against the move is resolved. U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter made his decision after a hearing in Manhattan. It bolsters a temporary restraining order Carter issued earlier this month, when he directed the Department of Labor to cease removing Job Corps students from housing, terminating jobs or otherwise suspending the nationwide program without congressional approval.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Federal judge orders Labor Department to keep Job Corps running during lawsuit
A federal judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps, a residential program for low-income youth, until a lawsuit against the move is resolved. U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter made his decision after a hearing in Manhattan. It bolsters a temporary restraining order Carter issued earlier this month, when he directed the Department of Labor to cease removing Job Corps students from housing, terminating jobs or otherwise suspending the nationwide program without congressional approval. Founded in 1964, Job Corps aims to help teenagers and young adults who struggled to finish traditional high school and find jobs. The program provides tuition-free housing at residential centers, training, meals and health care. 'Once Congress has passed legislation stating that a program like the Job Corps must exist, and set aside funding for that program, the DOL is not free to do as it pleases; it is required to enforce the law as intended by Congress,' Carter wrote in the ruling. The Labor Department said in late May that it would pause operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers by the end of June. It said the publicly funded program yielded poor results for its participants at a high cost to taxpayers, citing low student graduation rates and growing budget deficits. As the centers prepared to close, many students were left floundering. Some moved out of the centers and into shelters that house homeless people. 'Many of these young people live in uncertainty, so it takes time to get housing and restore a lot of those supports you need when you've been away from your community for so long,' said Edward DeJesus, CEO of Social Capital Builders, a Maryland-based educational consultancy which provides training on relationship-building at several Job Corps sites. 'So the abrupt closure of these sites is really harmful for the welfare of young adults who are trying to make a change in their lives.' The National Job Corps Association, a nonprofit trade organization comprised of business, labor, volunteer and academic organizations, sued to block the suspension of services, alleging it would displace tens of thousands of vulnerable young people and force mass layoffs. The attorneys general of 20 U.S. states filed an amicus brief supporting the group's motion for a preliminary injunction in the case. Monet Campbell learned about the Job Corps' center in New Haven, Connecticut, while living in a homeless shelter a year ago. The 21-year-old has since earned her certified nursing assistant license and phlebotomy and electrocardiogram certifications through Job Corps, and works at a local nursing home. 'I always got told all my life, 'I can't do this, I can't do that.' But Job Corps really opened my eyes to, 'I can do this,'' said Campbell, who plans to start studing nursing at Central Connecticut State University in August. The program has been life-changing in other ways, she said. Along with shelter and job training, Campbell received food, mental health counseling, medical treatment and clothing to wear to job interviews. 'I hadn't been to the doctor's in a while,' she said. 'I was able to do that, going to checkups for my teeth, dental, all that. So they really just helped me with that.' Campbell said she and other Job Corps participants in New Haven feel like they're in limbo, given the program's possible closure. They recently had to move out for a week when the federal cuts were initially imposed, and Campbell stayed with a friend. ____ Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut contributed to this report.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Federal judge orders Labor Department to keep Job Corps running during lawsuit
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps, a residential program for low-income youth, until a lawsuit against the move is resolved. U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter made his decision after a hearing in Manhattan. It bolsters a temporary restraining order Carter issued earlier this month, when he directed the Department of Labor to cease removing Job Corps students from housing, terminating jobs or otherwise suspending the nationwide program without congressional approval. Founded in 1964, Job Corps aims to help teenagers and young adults who struggled to finish traditional high school and find jobs. The program provides tuition-free housing at residential centers, training, meals and health care. 'Once Congress has passed legislation stating that a program like the Job Corps must exist, and set aside funding for that program, the DOL is not free to do as it pleases; it is required to enforce the law as intended by Congress,' Carter wrote in the ruling. The Labor Department said in late May that it would pause operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers by the end of June. It said the publicly funded program yielded poor results for its participants at a high cost to taxpayers, citing low student graduation rates and growing budget deficits. As the centers prepared to close, many students were left floundering. Some moved out of the centers and into shelters that house homeless people. 'Many of these young people live in uncertainty, so it takes time to get housing and restore a lot of those supports you need when you've been away from your community for so long,' said Edward DeJesus, CEO of Social Capital Builders, a Maryland-based educational consultancy which provides training on relationship-building at several Job Corps sites. 'So the abrupt closure of these sites is really harmful for the welfare of young adults who are trying to make a change in their lives.' The National Job Corps Association, a nonprofit trade organization comprised of business, labor, volunteer and academic organizations, sued to block the suspension of services, alleging it would displace tens of thousands of vulnerable young people and force mass layoffs. The attorneys general of 20 U.S. states filed an amicus brief supporting the group's motion for a preliminary injunction in the case. Monet Campbell learned about the Job Corps' center in New Haven, Connecticut, while living in a homeless shelter a year ago. The 21-year-old has since earned her certified nursing assistant license and phlebotomy and electrocardiogram certifications through Job Corps, and works at a local nursing home. 'I always got told all my life, 'I can't do this, I can't do that.' But Job Corps really opened my eyes to, 'I can do this,'' said Campbell, who plans to start studing nursing at Central Connecticut State University in August. The program has been life-changing in other ways, she said. Along with shelter and job training, Campbell received food, mental health counseling, medical treatment and clothing to wear to job interviews. 'I hadn't been to the doctor's in a while,' she said. 'I was able to do that, going to checkups for my teeth, dental, all that. So they really just helped me with that.' Campbell said she and other Job Corps participants in New Haven feel like they're in limbo, given the program's possible closure. They recently had to move out for a week when the federal cuts were initially imposed, and Campbell stayed with a friend. ____ Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut contributed to this report.
