CTE (Career Technical Education)-March 2023 Theme

Career Technical Education (CTE) is evergrowing across K20 education. School districts, colleges, and universities worldwide are implementing and improving CTE-focused programming. These programs focus on many skills, including technical skills like coding and computer science, and foundational skills like financial and business management. There is a want for more career-focused learning across K20, particularly from students and advocates. Students, parents, and other key stakeholders in education are pushing schools to increase their student’s career readiness. This has led many members of the K20 and EdTech communities to develop unique plans of action to support students’ career exploration and skill acquisition.

This month on edCircuit, thought leaders from across K20 and EdTech will discuss strategies, recent research, and applications of CTE. To prepare readers, this article outlines a baseline for comprehending CTE. 

What is CTE?

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) defines CTE as “courses (at the high school level) and programs (at the postsecondary sub-baccalaureate level) that focus on the skills and knowledge required for specific jobs or fields of work.” This broad definition includes programs that teach students thousands of skills for various careers. These programs, often formalized, makeup what we now constitute what we know as CTE.  

Preparing students for careers beyond their formal education has always been a focus for public and private educational institutions. There is an argument that as long as there has been education, we have used it to prepare student’s career skill acquisition. However, the vocational training that we primarily associate with modern CTE programming made its foreground in K12 schools in the early 20th century. 

Between 1916 and 1976, there was a large push to include career technical training in children’s education. A major push for this was the booming of vocations that entered the workforce after the first and second World Wars. 

As the American Enterprise Institute puts it, the shift from trade-based vocational training to what we now know as CTE programming happened rapidly and was platformed primarily by politicians wanting to tap into the frustrations that many Americans had concerning their job skills after graduating K12 education. 

Available Programming

According to Advance CTE,  nearly 12.3 million students are enrolled in CTE programs across the United States. The primary areas of study fall under one of several career clusters. These clusters include: 

• Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
• Architecture & Construction
• Arts, A/V Technology & Communications
• Business Management & Administration
• Education & Training
• Business, Finance, Marketing
• Government & Public Administration
• Health Science
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
• Manufacturing
• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
• Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

These programs have seemingly been to the benefit of students. A primary benefactor is students who want to build on their skills in post-secondary or enter the job market straight out of high school. There have been many positive benefits of CTE programs across the country. 

Pros of Robust CTE

This amount of students involved in formal and informal CTE programs begs the question: are CTE programs affecting student career success? Much evidence suggests that CTE programs are leading to successful outcomes.

According to the New Hampshire board of education, students have seen huge academic and personal benefits from participating in CTE programs. The following are statistics they shared via their Bureau of Career Development: 

• CTE learners and their parents are three times more likely to report that they are very satisfied with their ability to learn real-world skills as compared to non-CTE learners and their parents
• Over 75% of CTE learners enroll in postsecondary education after high school.
• CTE learners have a 10% higher high school graduation rate than non-CTE students.
• 89% of parents think students should receive more education about career choices while in high school.
• Six of the ten hardest-to-fill positions are in technical fields or require a CTE background.
• About half of all CTE learners are enrolled in programs in leading fields such as health care, STEM, and information technology.
• More than twice as many CTE parents report satisfaction with internship opportunities.

With these benefits in mind, it is hard to find a reason why all students should not, in some part, participate in a CTE program. CTE is often viewed as secondary or supplemental learning. However, with recent student success outcomes,  many schools are investing in specialized pathways for specific careers. There is hope this investment will lead to more equitable and sustainable career success. 

Exciting Developments in CTE Programming

Recent developments in CTE have broadened the kinds of careers students can explore while in K12 and post-secondary education. One major development of CTE is future-focused career skill development.

Future-focused career technical programs such as computer science and engineering have exploded over the past 10 years, with schools investing large amounts of money to prepare students for the prevalence of technology in the workplace. Skills like coding no longer require large financial investments, and it directly impacts positive outcomes across K12. 

One reason these programs are so essential is that they focus on AI-proof skills. A large worry for the future workplace is technology overtaking jobs. Programs that focus on coding, critical thinking, and creativity often lead to developing AI-proof career skills. These skills ensure students have the skills they need to compete in an ever-developing economy. Many educators are focused on this topic of discussion, particularly in CTE programs. However, concerns about AI and job creation are happening at all levels of the government. 

As expressed in a recent UN Chronicle article, “Conceptual and strategic thinking, creativity, problem-solving, empathy, optimism, ethics, emotional intelligence, and judgment are the future-proof skills and attributes that machines will not be able to replicate with the same standards and agility as qualified human beings.” 

In focusing on AI-proof skills, we are preparing students for prosperous careers and futures. 

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