Strategies for Attracting Students to High-quality CTE

Published: April 20, 2017

Our friends at Advance CTE and the Siemens Foundation are working on a project, Strategies for Attracting Students to High-Quality CTE, which supports states and local communities in their efforts to attract more students into high-quality career and technical education programs of study. This project will develop effective messaging, as well as provide support to states. Advance CTE commissioned a national survey to better understand the opportunity of CTE, outlined in a new report, “The Value and Promise of Career Technical Education: Results from a National Survey of Parents and Students.” Through the study, Advance CTE found that:

Finding a career passion was a critical selling point for parents and students (over 90 percent) – even surpassing having a career that pays well;
The majority of parents and students (85 percent) value college as the post-high school aspiration;
CTE programs are most valued for their ability to provide real-world skills, offering tangible benefits related to college and career success;
The findings were consistent across all socio-economic groups, with a higher appreciation for CTE graduation success amongst lower-income, black and Hispanic groups; and
Counselors, teachers, students and alumni are trusted sources of information.

Read the full report.

SkillsUSA Names Missouri Automotive Student to 2026 WorldSkills USA Team

SkillsUSA has selected James Cahill of Saint James, Missouri, as the official U.S. competitor for Automobile Technology for the 2026 WorldSkills Competition. This prestigious international skills competition, often referred to as the “Olympics of skilled trades,” will be held Sept. 22-27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.

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SkillsUSA and Aerotek to Award ‘Make Your Mark’ Scholarships

SkillsUSA has partnered with Aerotek, a leading staffing and services provider in the manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation and facility management industries, to provide “Make Your Mark” scholarships to SkillsUSA members toward tuition for the spring 2026 semester.

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Media Contacts

For more information about SkillsUSA, contact:

Clare Briner (Media Inquires)

Director, Marketing and Communications

703-737-0625

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Strategies for Attracting Students to High-quality CTE

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SkillsUSA Names Missouri Automotive Student to 2026 WorldSkills USA Team

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Search News Room:

Media Contacts

Clare Briner (Media Inquires)

Mike Rowe for SkillsUSA

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