The New York Times published an op/ed piece last week to examine the fantastic opportunities offered by CTE programs, as well as the challenges they face. In the op/ed, Katherine S. Newman and Hella Winston, authors of “Reskilling America: Learning to Labor in the 21st Century,” detail the need for greater emphasis on CTE to prepare more students for promising careers in growing industries, and identify strategies for building the CTE enterprise moving forward.
Newman and Winston’s article brings readers to Pickens County Career and Technology Center in Liberty, South Carolina, a secondary school that offers high-quality CTE in a wide variety of fields. Students there study manufacturing with high-tech equipment or prepare fine meals in the school’s commercial kitchen, and administrators partner with local employers to guide program development. These programs, according to school officials, prepare some 75 percent of students for postsecondary education after high school, and the rest to pursue careers with their newly earned industry-recognized certifications.
However, the authors are careful to note that the outlook for some programs has not been so sunny. Funding cuts have undermined the programs at the once high-performing Automotive High School in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, resulting in the loss of industry partners and declines in enrollment. While the professionals working there remain committed to preparing their students for college- and career- success, they face enormous challenges due to lack of investment and the lingering “voc-ed” stigma.
Fortunately, the authors note, there are clear opportunities to help these students and programs reach their potential. They point to the need for intensive professional development opportunities for CTE educators, as well as more effective pathways to the classroom for industry professionals looking to become teachers. Furthermore, they note that we must continue to push our elected officials to support CTE at all levels to build a thriving economy and strengthen opportunity for all.
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