Forty-two governors have delivered their 2017 State of the State addresses, and CTE has emerged as a principal issue. CTE was the second most popular education topic mentioned in governor’s State of the State addresses, according to the Education Commission of the States, after school financing.
CTE and workforce development was addressed by 24 governors in their addresses between the first of the year and early March, including the following:
- Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson proposed grants to cover tuition and fees at community colleges for students studying high-demand fields, along with mentoring and jobs after graduation.
- Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb suggested $2 million for regional grant programs to help employed students earn credentials in high-demand, high-wage fields of study.
- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder developed the Community College Skilled Trades Equipment Program to help community colleges upgrade their CTE programs, and also asked for an increased investment in K-12 CTE programs.
- Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo asked for an investment in high school manufacturing programs and set a goal that 70 percent of Rhode Island adults will have a postsecondary credential by 2025.
- Utah Gov. Gary Herbert launched the Aerospace Pathways program and proposed Talent Ready Utah to grow business-education partnerships.
Why are we giving so much attention to community colleges? Are we forgetting that, while every high school youngster in CTE will not necessarily follow through on their chosen program, many do? And high school graduation is definitely benefitted as well.
With regard to the 24 Governors, I must ask why there were not 50 of them who are recognizing the need for CTE. I'll bet some mentioned STEM, but everyone is not going to be a scientist, engineerr, or computer analyst!
Posted by: Robert Mauro, Retired PA CTE Director | 03/20/2017 at 01:51 PM