Education Foundation - About the Education Foundation: News: 2006 Press Release

Hoffman Estates, IL – September 15, 2006 - After passing Congress with near unanimous support, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2005 was signed into law by the President of the United States on August 12. As a result, Federal funding will continue to those states and schools that offer technical education, including collision repair programs.

“I want to thank everyone who wrote to their elected representatives in Congress in support of this crucial legislation,” stated Clark Plucinski, Chairman of the I-CAR Education Foundation Board of Trustees. “I would also like to thank the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, the Automotive Service Association and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists for their efforts to promote and support this legislation to their membership.”

“Career and technical education programs are an important part of the lives of young people who are pursuing a rewarding career in the collision industry. The pre-employment training students receive at high schools and colleges supported by the Federal funding authorized by this legislation helps pave the way for a successful career,” continued Plucinski.

Plucinski wrote an “open letter” to the industry on May 2 urging collision industry professionals to contact their national representatives to enlist their support for the Perkins Act. No less than the future of the industry rides on the ability to attract, train and retain students in collision repair. Without Federal funding, many programs would have been forced to close and important resources would have been lost to the industry.

In the very early morning hours of July 29, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Conference Report on the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2005 (S. 250) by a recorded vote of 399-1. The vote follows the Senate's July 27th approval of the Conference Report by unanimous consent.

The purpose of this Act is to develop the academic and career and technical skills of secondary and postsecondary education students who enroll in career and technical education programs. The legislation authorizes continued Federal funding to the states in support of career and technical education programs such as collision repair technology.

Career and technical education programs provide young people with both important technical skills combined with rigorous academics in preparation for entry-level employment in collision repair, insurance and supplier segments of the collision industry. Students whose schools use the I-CAR Live curriculum can apply their training towards credit for a college degree in the many colleges and universities with collision repair technology programs.

In addition, on August 8th, I-CAR announced that any collision industry professional that has successfully completed I-CAR training may apply their training towards a college degree through a newly formed relationship with the University of Phoenix Online. This program can also benefit students who have received training at a career or technical school or college that uses I-CAR Live curriculum and is a member of the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance.

The I-CAR Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to attracting entry-level candidates and assist in preparing them for careers in the collision industry.

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