For Learning, For Earning, For Life Colorado Career & Technical Education For Real Presented by INSERT NAME INSERT NAME OF EVENT INSERT DATE

What Is Career & Technical Education (CTE)? Evolved beyond “your parents’ vocational education” Combines academic, technical, and “soft”/21st Century skills and learning Taught in classes that combine relevance and rigor Prepares learners for college and careers Promotes partnerships among education, the workforce, business, industry, and the community Delivers more options for success to more American students

Why CTE? America needs to be more competitive in the global 21st Century economy 85% of emerging occupations are expected to require postsecondary education U.S. students are not being adequately prepared for the the workplace

Why CTE for Colorado? CTE can help fulfill Governor Ritter’s “Colorado Promise” –Double the number of degrees and certificates awarded –Cut the dropout rate in half CTE can help reverse the “Colorado Paradox” –Colorado has the greatest number of college degree holders per capita, yet ranks 30th in the country for total high-school graduation rates 56% of African-American students 44% of Hispanic students

Why CTE for Colorado? For every 100 Colorado 9th graders, only 19 graduate with an associate’s degree in 3 years or a bachelor’s degree in 6 years.

Why CTE for Colorado? Colorado has led all states in high-tech employment for 7 straight years Colorado ranks high nationally in –Tech-worker concentration –Creating new companies –STEM jobs and education Nearly 80% of Colorado jobs will require some form of postsecondary education –60% will require at least a 2-year, but not necessarily a 4-year, degree CTE is a “natural” for Colorado

Why CTE for Colorado? CTE educates Colorado’s young people for today’s high-wage, high- skill careers CTE offers options for the one million+ Colorado adults who lack post-secondary education CTE trains Coloradoans for the state’s fastest-growing occupations CTE promotes gender-balanced programs CTE is a “recession survival strategy”

Why CTE for Colorado? CTE is “For Real” CTE is practical, authentic, genuine, relevant CTE is about preparing young people for the “real world” of adulthood CTE instills real skills such as teamwork, work ethic, and leadership CTE is a real answer to Colorado’s need to strengthen its workforce

Great Jobs for CTE Grads Dental hygienist$79,392 Aerospace engineering tech$58,962 Fashion designer$58,541 Construction supervisor$58,031 Cardiovascular tech$53,557 Interpreter/translator$53,243

Cool Programs for CTE Students Some real Colorado CTE programs: –Biotechnology –Gunsmithing –Sports Medicine –Ski and Snowboard Business –Geographic Information Systems –Fire Science Technology –Sport Vehicle Technologies –Rural Entrepreneurship

Colorado CTE Snapshot: Secondary Programs 116,000+ student enrollments –1,200+ programs in 160 school districts Delivered through –270 high schools –8 technical centers –6 community colleges –4 area technical colleges –1 four-year college One out of every three Colorado high school students is gaining valuable experiences through CTE 94% of respondents who completed secondary CTE programs were employed in related jobs and/or continuing their education one year later

Colorado CTE Snapshot: Postsecondary Programs 23,798 student enrollments –560 programs delivered via 13 system community colleges 2 local district colleges 4 area technical colleges 1 four-year college Adult and youth state correctional facilities

How CTE Works Educators create seamless connections between high school, college education, and skilled, high-wage employment Students understand these connections through Plans of Study Plans of Study are grouped into Career Pathways that extend from high school into professional studies Career Pathways are grouped into Career Clusters, showing opportunities for moving into and out of careers depending on knowledge and skills

An Illustrated Plan of Study

Multiple Delivery Models High school students –Generally gain access to CTE courses from home high schools Or through a tech-ed center or college serving a district or region Or through CTE courses at area community colleges –May attend career academies Self-contained high schools or schools-within-schools Beginning to emerge in Colorado –May attend middle colleges Set up to provide students with credits for high-school graduation and those needed for a head start on a college experience

Multiple Delivery Models Advanced Placement Opportunities –Concurrent Enrollment –Articulation agreements –ACP: Advanced Credit Pathway Awards college credit to students who master equivalent college competencies in high school CTE courses Motivates students to continue learning Qualifies them for the workforce sooner Can save families money

Multiple Delivery Models Postsecondary Students –Generally access CTE courses at one of our: – 13 System Colleges – 3 Local Colleges; or – 3 Area Technical Colleges The Colorado Community College System

Colorado CTE: Real Value “At a time when the average four-year college student graduates with $17,520 in debt, and one in four students graduates owing more than $22,000, ‘learn-and-earn’ career pathways that alternate education with lucrative work experiences are good options for many students.” —Colorado Succeeds

Real Value for Families CTE gives students marketable skills CTE can save parents and students money by maximizing students’ focus and direction “You’d be surprised at how many students already have an idea of what they want to do.” —Colorado District CTE Director

Real Value for Educators Classroom partnerships –CTE & academic instructors can integrate approaches to teaching –Professional development windows widen Institutional partnerships –Secondary, postsecondary & other institutions benefit from articulation agreements Educators collaborate with business and industry to create Plans of Study and other program support

Real Value for Colorado “I believe strongly that the development of a highly educated workforce is a fundamental element of the expansion and vigor of the state’s economy. Critical to this relationship is Career and Technical Education.” —Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. Will fix fuzziness

Get Involved Students –Ask your school counselor, parents, and teachers about CTE –Visit collegeincolorado.org Parents – Talk to your kids and their school counselor and teachers about CTE –Visit coloradocommunitycolleges.com and collegeincolorado.org

Get Involved Adult learners –Ask your company’s Human Resources group about CTE –Visit coloradocommunitycolleges.com and collegeincolorado.org Educators –Contact CACTA/CACTE –Visit Colorado Career & Technical Education at cccs.edu and coloradocommunitycolleges.com

Get Involved Business, Industry, and Community Organizations –Visit coloradosucceeds.org, Colorado Career & Technical Education at cccs.edu, and coloradocommunitycolleges.com Policymakers and Media –Visit coloradosucceeds.org, Colorado Career & Technical Education at cccs.edu, and coloradocommunitycolleges.com

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