In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez discussed a variety of employment and labor related issues, including the need for greater emphasis on CTE in preparing America's future workforce and connecting students with career opportunities.
The interview states:
L.A. Times: Vocational or technical education is being raised more regularly as an alternative to college. Still, high schools have pushed college prep curricula. Is there a disconnect between the Department of Labor and the Department of Education?
Secretary Perez: The thing I always tell parents and school superintendents when we talk about career and technical education is that it gets you on the higher education superhighway.
So when that mom says, 'My kid isn't going to go into one of these programs; he's going to get a college degree,' well, when you complete an apprenticeship program, you are 75% of your way to an associate's degree and it's a stackable credential.
There are really good jobs out there, folks making on average something like $25 an hour. That's pretty good money for someone who's 21, 22 years old and coming out of a program.
We've got to understand as we prepare today and tomorrow's workforce that we've got to start at pre-kindergarten, but we've also got to recognize that there are millions of people for whom the K-12 system is way in the rear-view mirror.
For some people, college is the answer, and for other people, there are other answers that are equally rewarding.
Perez's comments relate to an issue that ACTE works on continuously - namely, the stigma that many Americans have about CTE programs and lack of awareness about the valued, high-paying careers that are available to CTE students. By clearly communicating the value of CTE to the press, policymakers and public officials can break down that stigma and build support for initiatives that will meet the needs of America's students and CTE professionals. To learn more about how you can raise awareness of CTE's role in ensuring America's future workforce success, visit the Targeting the Media resource in ACTE'sAdvocacy Toolkit.
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