CTE is at the forefront of preparing students to be college-and career-ready.
Coastline ROP offers career pathways that require varying levels of education including industry-recognized credentials, postsecondary certificates, and two-and four-year degrees. CTE is offered in middle schools, high schools, career and technical centers, community and technical colleges, and other postsecondary institutions. One-third of college students are involved in CTE programs, and as many as 40 million adults engage in short-term postsecondary career training.
CTE equips students with:
Core academic skills and the ability to apply those skills to concrete situations in order to function in the workplace and in routine daily activities
Employability skills (such as critical thinking and decision-making skills) that are essential in any career area
Job-specific, technical skills related to specific career pathways
Within CTE, occupations and career specialties are grouped into “Career Sectors.” Each of the fifteen state sectors is based on a set of common knowledge and skills that prepare learners for a full range of opportunities. Further specialization is achieved through comprehensive Programs of Study, which align academic and technical content in a coordinated, non-duplicative sequence of secondary and postsecondary courses. These programs lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the postsecondary level or an associate or baccalaureate degree.
Coastline ROP has Courses and Programs in 12 of the 15 State Industry Sectors
- Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Arts, Media, and Entertainment
- Building and Construction Trades
- Education, Child Development, & Family Services
- Engineering and Architecture
- Health Science and Medical Technology
- Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Manufacturing and Product Development
- Marketing, Sales, and Service
- Public Services
- Transportation
CTE Increases Student Achievement and Meets Community Economic Needs
- Students involved in CTE programs are more engaged, graduate high school at higher rates (98% for CTE Concentrators compared to 83.6% for non-CTE), earn industry-recognized credentials, and have rewarding and family-sustaining careers.(ACTEonline.org)
- 81 percent of dropouts said that “more real-world learning” may have influenced them to stay in school. (Bridgeland et al, “The Silent Epidemic,” 2006.)
- The more students participate in CTSO activities, the higher their academic motivation, academic engagement, grades, career self-efficacy and college aspirations. (Alfeld et al, “Looking Inside the Black Box: The Value Added by Career and Technical Student Organizations to Students’ High School Experience,” 2007.)
- CTE students are significantly more likely than their non-CTE counterparts to report that they developed problem-solving, project completion, research, math, college application, work-related, communication, time management, and critical thinking skills during high school. (Lekes et al, “Career and Technical Education Pathway Programs, Academic Performance, and the Transition to College and Career,” 2007.)
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 20 fastest growing occupations, 14 require an associate degree or less, Furthermore, of the 20 occupations with the largest number of new jobs projected, 18 require on-the-job training, an associate degree or a postsecondary credential.
- Sixty-seven percent of respondents in a 2011 manufacturing skills gap study indicated that they are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers overall—with 12 percent reporting severe shortages and 55 percent indicating moderate shortages. CTE plays a vital role in helping American business close this gap by building a competitive workforce for the 21st century. (Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, Boiling Point? The Skills Gap in U.S. Manufacturing, 2011)
- A person with a CTE-related associate degree or credential will earn an average of at least $4000 more a year than a person with a humanities associate degree – and those with credentials in high-demand fields such as healthcare can average almost $20,000 more a year. (Jacobson et al, “Pathways to Boosting the Earnings of Low-Income Students by Increasing Their Education Attainment,” 2009.
Want more information on career and technical education? The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. Visit ACTE’s Web site at www.acteonline.org or call 800-826-9972.