Direct from Washington, January 2009

More on Improving CTE

Continuing their emphasis on improving the quality of career and technical education and linking it to academic programs, leaders from about 20 Southern Regional Education Board states shared state efforts at a recent meeting and crafted individual state plans.

Emphasizing that CTE needs to be more intellectually demanding, David Wakelyn, a senior policy analyst for the National Governors Association, reminded the group that two of three future jobs will require some postsecondary education, double the percentage 20 years ago. He suggested several strategies for states: convince governors and other leaders to make the quality of CTE a priority; set higher academic standards for career courses; connect career studies to state economic development efforts; include career endorsements in high school paths of study; improve teaching in these courses; and ensure smooth transitions for students into postsecondary education.

Traditional blue-collar fields now require many advanced skills, Mike Rose, professor at the University of California/Los Angeles, told the group. Good work requires mental agility, and he described observing a class of electricians in training that used the language of scientific experimentation, theory, and hypotheses. Even workers in restaurants and in carpentry need higher-order thinking skills and problem solving, he said.