Student Debt Alternative and CTE Awareness Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2802
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-06T21:25:11Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to increase awareness of career and technical education (CTE) programs as an alternative to traditional four-year college degrees. It requires the Department of Education to share information about CTE options, costs, and funding sources, and to add a related acknowledgment to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of Education must publish and regularly update information on the Office of Federal Student Aid website covering:
- CTE program details such as average completion time, cost, and post-graduation employment rates.
- State-level opportunities for CTE programs and funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
- Workforce Pell Grants.
- FAFSA applications must include a one-page summary of this information and require applicants to acknowledge it via a signature box.
- No additional federal funds are authorized for implementation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill amends Section 494(a)(1)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 by adding a new clause that mandates the FAFSA disclosure and acknowledgment process for CTE programs. It does not alter the Perkins Act itself but builds on it by requiring public disclosure of related opportunities.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Department of Education must compile, publish, and maintain new website content and update FAFSA forms within existing resources.
- Citizens: Individuals applying for federal student aid will receive information about CTE alternatives, potentially influencing education and career choices.
- International relations: No direct effects are specified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Education (Office of Federal Student Aid).
- Students and families completing the FAFSA.
- CTE program providers and state education agencies.
- Recipients of Perkins Act funding or Workforce Pell Grants.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure introduces a mandatory acknowledgment requirement on a federal form, which could raise questions about the scope of administrative authority over aid applications. It operates without new appropriations, limiting its implementation to current agency budgets. No constitutional issues are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-09-15: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Student Debt Alternative and CTE Awareness Act — issued 2025-09-15 — PDF (4 pages)