At least 16 governors have talked CTE in their State of the State addresses, as of early March, according to the Education Commission of the States. In addition, at least 23 governors are encouraging workforce development initiatives.
The state proposals for CTE include the following:
- Michigan’s Marshall Plan for Talent, introduced by Gov. Rick Snyder, calls for competency-based industry certification programs, equipment grants, school-based career navigators, expanded career exploration tools, scholarships to help low-income adults complete certifications and incentives to encourage current teachers to move into CTE and other critical shortage areas. It builds on the state’s support of CTE through the budget and other policies in 2017.
- Gov. Kate Brown launched Future Ready Oregon, including a request of $300 million for CTE in the 2019-2021 budget, an expansion of hands-on learning to every school district in Oregon and growth in apprenticeship.
- Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Wolf is launching PAsmart to improve education and workforce alignment. The initiative calls for $10 million for CTE and STEM career pathways and $7 million for apprenticeships. This follows upon the commonwealth’s 2017 policies to expand apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships and fund career learning opportunities.
- Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa is budgeting $500,000 to expand high school work-based learning and $1 million to grow Iowa’s apprenticeship program.
- Indiana’s Gov. Eric Holcomb announced a state office for work-based learning and apprenticeship, to double the number of apprenticeship opportunities in the state by 2020.
- Gov. Henry McMaster is asking for an investment of $5 million to create the South Carolina Workforce Partnership, which will link businesses with high schools and technical colleges for work-based learning, dual credit and certificate programs in the skilled trades, focusing on rural areas. He also is requesting $3 million for workforce scholarships and grants to help students earn certificates and associate’s degrees at state technical colleges.
- South Dakota’s Gov. Dennis Daugaard is piloting Career Launch, in which assigned staff will help schools work with employers to develop work-based learning experiences and help students navigate their education and career options.
- Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the Northern Rhode Island Higher Education Center, a public-private partnership to help adult Rhode Islanders get hands-on education leading to a career, and called for a $200,000 investment to sustain the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) initiative.
With these governors’ support, the state outlook for CTE and career readiness in 2018 is bright.
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