SHARE YOUR STORY
Lawmakers remember stories, not statistics
A shop running on a donated furnace. A waitlist for welding. A kid who found their path in a garage. Tell us, and with your permission we'll share it with policymakers.
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Trade education deserves a seat at the table.
HappyTeachers advocates to local, state and federal lawmakers for better funding and stronger school trade programs, as a representative of the teachers, administrators and parents who keep them running.
OUR MISSION
Every student who wants to build, fix, wire or weld should have a real shop and a trained teacher, whatever their zip code, school budget or whether they learn at home.
No one knows exactly how AI will reshape knowledge work, but hands-on trades remain essential and in demand. We bring teachers' everyday reality to policymakers: shops running on donated equipment, waitlists for trade classes, and families looking for resilient careers.
Policy priorities
Fully fund Perkins V & state CTE
Steady, predictable funding for career and technical education so programs aren't rebuilt from scratch every budget cycle.
Equipment & shop modernization grants
Dedicated grants for school shops, plus tax incentives for businesses that donate working equipment and parts to schools.
Apprenticeship pathways from high school
Expand pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship slots that start in high school and count toward credentials.
Recruit & support trade teachers
Streamlined certification for industry professionals who want to teach, and pay that keeps them in the classroom.
Access for homeschool & co-op learners
Let homeschool students and co-ops access CTE courses, dual enrollment, testing centers and credentials.
Count what matters
Measure programs by hands-on skills and credentials earned, not seat time alone.