Panel on Supporting Successful Reentry Through CTE

This week the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus in conjunction with the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA) hosted a panel presentation and discussion titled, Supporting Successful Reentry Through CTE

The session moderated by Lul Tesfai, Senior Policy Director for CAN’s Institute for Public Research explored the significance of correctional CTE with regard to promoting positive academic, labor market and re-entry outcomes. Opening remarks were offered by Senate CTE Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). They were joined by their colleague Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).  All spoke about their support for the reauthorization of both Perkins and the Second Chance Act (H.R. 2899) and the critical need to implement recidivism-reduction coupled with the challenges facing many communities lacking the resources to corrections, reentry and workforce development practioners to provide every adult leaving prison or jail with the serves needed to reduce the likelihood of reoffending will increasing their level of job readiness.

Session panelists included: Stefan LoBuglio, Director of Corrections and Reentry with the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center; Kathie Harris, Alterative Workforce Specialist with the Kansas Department of Commerce; Thomas Lane Jr., Graphic Designer with the Maryland Correctional Enterprises; and Jack Web, CEO with Uptown Press.

Panelists offered their perspectives on the value-added benefits of incorporating CTE and WIOA into correctional education as well as the importance of supporting an integrated approach between criminal justice and workforce development systems, policy makers, administrators and practioners to identify and implement successful strategies for integrating reentry and employment programming.

Senator Rob Portman	Senator Tammy Baldwin	Senator Tim Kaine