2.  All students are encouraged to participate in CTE.  All parents recognized how CTE impacts achievement and aids in meeting career goals.  Business and community impacted our schools by providing a seamless transition to career goals.

3. Then....

4.  More than 1.2 million US students did not graduate in 2007.  Today’s high school grads will need some college to gain access to decent-paying careers.  Those without high school diploma will face a bleak labor market prospect.

5. NCs Dropouts  For year 20064.4%  Total for 200622,000  For a decade that is220,000 Enough dropouts to populate an mid-sized city every decade.

6. How can the United States continue to compete in a global economy if the entering workforce is made up of high school graduates who lack the skills they need and college graduates who are labeled adequate rather than excellent? Are They Really Ready to Work, EDWeek 2007

7. ~Louis Pasteur

11. Nothing is more important to the nation and its economy than the education level of its citizens and the will to put it to use. Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, 2008.

12.  Our challenge is to create a skilled workforce, creating a new destiny for Catawba County.  If we do nothing, then we will follow the trend.  Planning for action now, will help create a prosperous future.

13.  CTE is the best kept secret in Catawba County.  The people who need to know what CTE is or what it does, don’t know.  CTE must convince all stakeholders that it brings value and makes a difference.  To prosper economically, the county, the state, and the nation need CTE.

15.  CTE graduates earn 10% more than graduates of academic programs.  CTE concentrators are 2 ½ times more likely to be employed.  In a Gates Foundation report, 81% of students who dropped out said that “ more real world learning” would have influenced them to stay in school.

16. Align content with:  The standard course of study— and beyond.  The 16 career clusters.  Labor market needs and economic development goals.

17. Increase the number of CTE completers and future ready students:  Engage students by incorporating their interests and academics into your curriculum  Emphasize 21 st century career and work skills, and networking skills.  Consistently emphasize math, science, technology, literacy, and engineering skills in CTE courses.

18.  Implement strategies based on creation and design.  Stay up-to-date on new and emerging technologies.  Develop problem solving, collaborative, and organization skills.  Talk it up. Be a one-man PR machine for CTE. › Say it! Career and Technical Education › Your curriculum! › Economic connection › 16 Clusters › Special programs and events

19.  Prepare students: › Interests › Academics › Career and work skills › Ability to network  Create, create, create opportunities to make informed choices.