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.
The one-year countdown to competition has begun as SkillsUSA initiates the process to field a team of talented young skilled trades experts to represent the United States at the 2024 WorldSkills Competition to be held Sept. 10-15 in Lyon, France.
SkillsUSA has once again teamed up with Tractor Supply Company (TSC), Tractor Supply Company Foundation and Carhartt for their annual “Support the Trades” campaign designed to raise awareness of the skilled trades while helping SkillsUSA close the skilled trades gap. Carhartt and TSC have an expanded this year’s “Support the Trades” line of shirts and hats from Carhartt to benefit SkillsUSA.
