By Ayaan Soorma, age 11
Career and technical education (CTE) is a high school program that helps prepare students for technical careers and trade jobs like building, welding, health science, business management, agriculture, and more, and it is growing in many high schools nationwide. CTE is seeing a comeback, and so are trade schools.
Some students would rather work hard and make money in a job they get through a trade school than to go to college. College tends to be way more expensive and, depending on the degree, doesn’t always lead to a well-paying job. “When I went into a trade program, I learned how much money I could make performing a very specific kind of work,” Diego Aguilar told NPR.
According to K-12 Dive, “Career and technical education programs have helped boost graduation rates, skills training and school engagement.” The recent rise of CTE programs and trade schools can also help companies to get skilled workers.
For schools to meet the demand for CTE programs, more funding and qualified teachers are needed. “We need CTE programs that are available to all students, so they can explore careers that interest them — whether or not they require a four-year degree or an industry-recognized credential,” said U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore.
