Future Farmers of America vs. The State of California, students visit the State Capitol to voice concerns

Students from the Santa Paula High School Agriculture Program visit the State Capitol to voice their concern of the possible cuts to education specifically Career Technical Education. The following are the concerns if budget cuts are made to education: 1. The Agriculture Incentive Grant and other CTE programs are essential to keeping students in school. The vast majority of dropouts cite the lack of “engagement” as the number one reason they drop out of school. CTE programs are the hook that keep many students interested and engaged in school. Given that over 44% of students enrolled in Ag Education are Hispanic, cutting this program would certainly exacerbate dropout issues among this population. Rural schools and students in economically distressed areas of California would also disproportionately bear the burden of this policy decision.2. Given the need to reinvigorate and rebuild our economy, now is not the time to cut these important programs. Federal and state governments have both recognized the need to invest in rebuilding our infrastructure, and have committed resources to do so over the next several years. Technical skill acquisition has been one of the key factors identified as being critically essential for the future workforce over the next several decades. Cutting Career Technical Education programs that help prepare students for those jobs would be counterproductive to economic development in California.3. These precious few resources for Ag Education are the only incentive for schools to continue to offer these programs. In other categorical areas, graduation mandates drive policy and funding decisions. Being the last elective in a sea of mandates, Ag Education and other CTE programs would certainly be the first to be eliminated, since no graduation mandate currently exists to encourage or require districts to maintain this effort. The success achieved in integrating academic and career content, while engaging students in meaningful and relevant ways is too important to jeopardize. Please contact your local legislature by and voice your opposition to cuts in education.