Legislation will help grow diversity in the architecture profession and allow states to modernize and promote architecture curricula
WASHINGTON – July 26, 2018 – Today the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is applauding Congressional reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (H.R. 2353), which gives states more than $1 billion in career and technical education grants annually.
In response to the legislation’s passage – which is now awaiting the President’s signature – 2018 AIA President Carl Elefante, FAIA, issued the following statement:
“Passage of this legislation marks a significant victory for bipartisanship on Capitol Hill and for the architecture profession.
“With employment opportunities in architecture projected to grow over the next decade, for the first time this legislation clarifies that states can use federal career and technical education funding to modernize their architecture curriculums, which 49 out of 50 states have not updated in years. In so doing, it also legally recognizes architecture as part of a STEM education.
“Improving CTE architecture curriculums will help increase diversity in the profession, better prepare aspiring architects and open pathways into the profession for a generation of architects capable of bringing solutions to some of society’s biggest problems.
“It is very good to see bipartisan action on this important legislation. Our nation needs more of it to solve the problems our country is facing. Thank you Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Il), Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) as well as members of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee and the House of Representatives’ Education and Workforce Committee for your bipartisan efforts to pass this bill.”
