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June 2009
CTE - - Don't Go To College Without
It!
High-quality career and technical
education (CTE) provides the education and training to prepare
today's students for the fastest growing occupations, including
such high-wage, high-skilled, and high-demand career fields
as nursing, allied health, information technology, construction,
and energy. 
Just as important, CTE increases student
engagement in school, integrates math, science, literacy
skills and meets the needs of both employers and the economy
as a whole. Consider:
- CTE lowers the dropout rate. Eighty
percent of high school dropouts say that more real-world
learning would have influenced them to stay in school.
CTE increases academic motivation and engagement, improves
grades, and inspires students to focus on careers and
college - all factors linked to high schools graduation.
(Bridgeland et al, The Silent Epidemic, Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation, 2005.) (Alfield et al, "Looking Inside
the Black Box: The Value Added by Career and Technical
Student Organizations to Students' High School Experience,"
National Research Center for CTE, 2007.)
- CTE students exceed non-CTE students
in developing problem-solving, project completion, research,
math, communication, time management, and critical thinking
skills. CTE students also are more likely to attend college
and have test scores that equal or exceed those of college
prep students.
(Lekes et al, "Career and Technical Education Pathway
Programs, Academic Performance, and the Transition to
College and Career," National Research Center for CTE,
2007.)
- CTE students can realize increased
earnings. Students earning a CTE-related associate’s
degree or certificate can make an average of $2,400-$19,100
more annually than an individual with a humanities or
social sciences associate’s degree.
(Kemple and Willner, “Career Academies: Long-Term
Impacts on Labor Market Outcomes, Educational Attainment,
and Transitions to Adulthood,” MDRC, 2008.)
What
Parents Can Do
Here are some suggestions
for ways to help your child:
If you are the parent of a
high school student:
- Make sure your child becomes a Maryland
Scholar, www.mbrt.org/scholars.
- Encourage your child to take a CTE
program that allows them to explore their interest in
areas such as engineering, computer networking, or automotive
repair.
- Let your child know that CTE courses
improve his/her chances for succeeding (and making more
money) whether they go to college or directly into the
workforce.
- Suggest your child join national
student organizations such as Health Occupations Students
of America or Future Business Leaders of America
- Visit BeWhatIWantToBe.com
If you are the parent of a middle
school student:
- Encourage your child to pursue his/her
emerging interests in areas such as engineering, cars,
carpentry, computers, etc.
- Expose your child to a variety of
careers through neighbors, family, friends or possibly
through BeWhatIWantToBe.com,
a unique student-focused website.
- Meet often with your child’s
teacher and discuss how he/she is doing particularly in
science and math courses.
- Plan for high school program solutions.
If you are the parent of an elementary
school student:
- Let your child help you cook dinner,
work on the car, play on the computer, etc. and assess
where his/her interests lie.
- Make sure your child gets the basics
in reading, math and science.
To learn more, visit MSDE
Career and Technology Education >
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