Newburgh Free Academy teacher Linda Romano said she was a struggling high school student, but was able to bridge the gap through a practical nurse program.

"It was that nursing program, that career and technical education program, that gave me my success. And I see that same gap with my students in high school," Romano said.

Skill-heavy jobs like nursing are part of the career and technical education (CTE) sector that Representative Sean Patrick Maloney says he's trying to help.

"We want to invest in career and technology education because not everybody is going to college," Maloney said. "Not everybody is going to Harvard or MIT. Not everybody can afford a four-year private education. But everybody needs a skill. Everybody needs to be able to support themselves and their family in an affordable way."

One proposed bill would modernize requirements for CTE teachers to help them keep up with industry standards, and help students become workforce ready. Maloney's other bill would include $50 million in scholarships over a five-year period to prepare students become CTE teachers.