Today’s CTE has evolved from a limited number of vocational programs available at the turn of the 20th century into a broad system that encompasses a variety of challenging fields in diverse subject areas which are constantly evolving due to the changing global economy.
Career and technical education (CTE) produces gains in academic achievement and earnings and represents a significant contribution to the education of America’s youth and adults in preparation of a skilled workforce.
Today’s CTE provides students:
Students at schools with highly integrated rigorous academic and CTE programs have significantly higher student achievement in reading, mathematics and science than do students at schools with less integrated programs, as reported by the Southern Regional Education Board.
A 2002 study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago found that a year of technically oriented coursework at a community college increased the earnings of men by 14% and women by 29%.
CTE graduates are 10-15% more likely to be in the labor force, and earn 8-9% more than graduates of academic programs, according to a 2001 Russell Sage Foundation study.
The 2004 NAVE Independent Advisory Panel Report indicated that students who took four high school CTE courses showed an average increase in earnings of $1,200 immediately after graduation and $1,800 seven years later.
Secondary students who graduate with a career and technical education concentration are 2 ½ times more likely to be employed while pursuing postsecondary education than are “college prep” students, according to the SREB.
In a Gates Foundation report, 81 percent of students who dropped out said that “more real world learning” may have influenced them to stay in school.
A ratio of 1 CTE class for every 2 academic classes was shown to minimize the risk of students dropping out in a 2005 National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE) report.
More than 80 percent of respondents in the 2005 Skills Gap Report indicated that they are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers overall – with 13 percent reporting severe shortages and 68 percent indicating moderate shortages.
The number of students enrolled in CTE programs has risen 157% from 1999 to 2004 according to an Office of Vocational and Adult Education report.
Career and technical education is offered in middle schools, high schools, community and technical colleges and other postsecondary institutions.
According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), One-third of college students are involved in career and technical programs. This percentage is likely to increase due to employment demand.
According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), as many as 40 million adults engage in short-term postsecondary occupational training.
According to a 2006 U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics report, nearly one-third of the fastest growing occupations will require an associate degree or a postsecondary vocational certificate.
According to 2006-2007 data from the U.S. Department of Education (the latest numbers publicly available); the total number of CTE students in Kansas was 41,440.
All preceding information was found on the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) website.
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