The Pennsylvania Senate approved a comprehensive bill Sept. 25 that seeks to address deep-seated issues within the state's career and technical education system that have long stymied the growth of post-secondary education options for Pennsylvania students, according to its sponsor, Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster.

The bill is aimed at making it easier for students to pursue career and technical education by streamlining the process for students to receive and transfer credits, removing regulatory burdens and updating terminology to remove the decades-old stigma against career and technical schools.

"Career and technical schools offer a viable pathway for young people to find fulfilling, good-paying careers in high-demand industries, but the current system still creates barriers that prevent many students from pursuing these career—if they even know that they exist at all," Aument said. "Breaking down these barriers will open up a world of opportunities for young people and ensure that Pennsylvania's workforce keeps pace with the demands of the 21st century economy."