Office of Education Encourages Pupils to Contemplate a Profession and Technological Training

Harrisburg, PA – As pupils check out their selections for the up coming school year, the Pennsylvania Office of Schooling is encouraging them to contemplate pursuing a career and technical education and learning (CTE). Building a planet-course STEM-experienced workforce is a priority for the Wolf Administration, which is investing in CTE plans and doing the job with communities to extend understanding possibilities.

“Whether they choose to enter the workforce or keep on their schooling immediately after they graduate from higher university, all students really should be outfitted with the equipment, awareness, and abilities they need to have to realize success,” said Acting Secretary of Education and learning Noe Ortega. “Thousands of students throughout Pennsylvania have observed that their route to postsecondary good results begins at a job and complex education center.”

Transformed from vo-tech of the previous, Pennsylvania’s profession and specialized instruction centers (CTC) give dynamic, point out-accredited courses that lead to the growth of serious-planet, in-need capabilities as very well as business-identified credentials and certifications. Pupils have to implement to enroll in a profession and complex schooling center. 

Job and technological instruction (CTE) in Pennsylvania offer significant faculty learners the opportunity to develop critical techniques by means of a combination of demanding educational alternatives and fingers-on understanding activities. In 2020, Pennsylvania experienced 68,105 pupils enrolled in profession and complex facilities and high college packages. In the very last ten years, Pennsylvania has almost doubled its amount of field credentials awarded to college students as properly.

“STEM serves as the foundation to many profession and complex training plans, from architecture to business management, information and facts technology to hospitality and tourism, health science to transportation, and much more,” stated PDE’s Director of the Bureau of Vocation and Technological Education and learning Lee Burket. “CTE learners have the opportunity to make connections with employers, attain actual-world abilities, and gain sector credentials and certifications right before graduating from higher faculty. CTE is without limits!”

Pennsylvania has viewed an maximize in districts throughout the point out presenting PDE-authorised CTE systems. From the 2019-20 faculty yr to the 2020-21 school 12 months, 142 new courses were being presented to significant school students. In 2020, the U.S. Division of Education and learning granted PDE reapproval as an accrediting agency for profession and complex centers that supply grownup technical education programs. Also, PDE is in the approach of creating CTE pathways that lay out a sequence of programs from middle faculty as a result of postsecondary training.

Earlier this 7 days, PDE recognized Raymond A. Slifer of Quakertown Local community Substantial School, Pennsylvania’s initial-ever CTE university student receiver of the U.S. Presidential Students Award. Slifer was a single of 20 students nationwide to acquire this honor.

Previously this yr, Governor Tom Wolf declared $10.8 million in PAsmart Advancing Grants to grow entry to laptop or computer science and STEM instruction for Pennsylvania learners. Put together with PAsmart Targeted Grants declared in 2020, the Wolf administration has awarded approximately $20 million to bolster STEM and computer science (CS) in educational facilities all through the 2020-21 school 12 months. A comprehensive record of 2021 PAsmart Advancing Grant recipients, assignments, and award quantities can be discovered on PDE’s web-site.

For a lot more facts about Pennsylvania’s schooling procedures and plans, make sure you visit the Division of Education’s internet site at www.instruction.pa.gov or follow PDE on Fb, Twitter, or Pinterest.

MEDIA Make contact with: Kendall Alexander – [email protected]

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