Legislation that expands certification requirements for career and technical education instructors in Iowa high schools was signed into law Monday by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The legislation, House File 2454, broadens the eligibility requirements for CTE instructors to allow individuals with less than a four-year degree in the related field to teach CTE courses, provided they meet certain education or work experience requirements. The legislation, aimed at addressing the shortage of CTE instructors in the state, comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Education’s approval on Friday of Iowa’s plan for expanding high-quality CTE programs under the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, commonly referred to as Perkins V. Iowa’s four-year plan provides a road map for fiscal years 2020-2023, with a focus on expanding CTE programs to middle school students, boosting career and technical student organizations to enhance classroom learning through real-world experiences, and ensuring that both reflect the diversity of learners, business and industry, and communities. The plan also focuses on teacher recruitment, retention and professional development and increasing student participation in work-based learning opportunities that connect the classroom to future careers. CTE broadly encompasses six service areas: Agriculture, food and natural resources; applied sciences, technology, engineering and manufacturing; business, finance, marketing and management; health science; human services; and information solutions.