Frequently Asked Questions

How can students benefit from Career Technical Education (CTE)?

CTE Increases Student Achievement:

A ratio of one CTE class for every two academic classes minimizes the risk of students dropping out of high school. (Plank et al, “Dropping Out of High School and the Place of Career and Technical Education,” 2005.)

81 percent of dropouts said that “more real-world learning” may have influenced them to stay in school. (Bridgeland et al, “The Silent Epidemic,” 2005.)
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.)

Students who complete a rigorous academic core coupled with a career concentration have test scores that equal or exceed “college prep” students. These dual-concentrators are more likely to pursue postsecondary education, have a higher grade point average in college and are less likely to drop out in the first year. (Southern Regional Education Board, “Facts About High School Career/Technical Studies.”)

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.)

How can the community/economy benefit from CTE?

CTE Meets Individual and Community Economic Needs:

According to the BLS, of the 20 fastest growing occupations, 10 require an associate’s degree or less. Furthermore, of the 20 occupations with the largest numbers of new jobs projected for 2018, 13 require on-the-job training or an associate’s degree.

More than 80 percent of respondents in the 2005 National Association of Manufacturer’s Skills Gap Report indicated that they are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers overall—with 13 percent reporting severe shortages and 68 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.

A person with a CTE-related associate degree or credential will earn an average of between $5,000 and $15,000 more a year than a person with a humanities or social sciences 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 Educational Attainment,” 2009.)

According to the state of Washington, for every dollar spent on secondary CTE students, federal and state governments will receive seven dollars back in social security, Medicare, and federal and state taxes. (Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, Workforce Training Results-2006, January 2007.)

Information About CTE