Rebecca Koenig Interim Senior Editorial Director | EdSurge Research
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is experiencing significant changes, moving from the periphery to a central role in discussions about workforce development, education equity, and student well-being. This shift is being observed by educators like those at Pearson who have seen districts develop comprehensive CTE programs and schools.
A key development in this area is the newly modernized National Career Clusters Framework. Originally launched in 2002 with 16 clusters and nearly 80 pathways, it has been updated as of October 2024 to include 14 clusters and 72 sub-clusters. The new framework incorporates cross-cutting clusters such as Digital Technology, Marketing and Sales, and Management and Entrepreneurship. This update aims to provide flexibility for districts to customize programs based on local industry needs.
Funding remains a complex issue for CTE programs. Schools are piecing together financial support from federal sources like Perkins V, state allocations, local revenues, business partnerships, course fees, donations, and grants. Notable examples include Oregon's CTE Revitalization Grant offering up to $500,000 and incentives in Wisconsin and Hawaii providing up to $1,000 for each approved CTE certification.
CTE now accounts for a significant portion of high school education credits nationwide. With nearly all high school graduates having taken at least one CTE course, the model of "CTE for all" is gaining traction over the traditional "college for all" approach.
Despite these advancements, there remains a need for quality curriculum materials that align with career goals. Teachers often create their own resources due to a lack of ready-to-use curricula from trusted publishers. Efforts are underway by some curriculum providers to fill this gap with courses like Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship developed in partnership with organizations such as NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship).
The emphasis on career exploration is also growing within CTE programs. New tools that gamify career exploration help students connect their interests with real-world opportunities early on in their education journey.
The evolution of CTE is not just about job training but also about empowering students with confidence and direction. The updated Career Clusters Framework represents progress alongside increasing funding momentum; however, continued support through quality curricula and effective exploration tools will be essential for future success.
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