21st century career and technical education (CTE) is for any student looking to start on a path toward career fulfillment and success – regardless of the industry.
CTE prepares students for careers, not just jobs.
- CTE provides students with both the academic and technical skills needed to succeed in college and all types of high-skill, well-paying, and in-demand careers.
- CTE incorporates academics, cutting-edge technology, workplace skills, and real-world learning opportunities.
- Programs incorporate partnerships with colleges and universities, as well as employers, to put students on clear pathways to career success.
- Students get a head start with college credits and industry credentials earned through their programs.
- CTE connects learning to career goals, which positively affects student performance: CTE students are generally more engaged, perform better, and graduate at higher levels than other students.
- CTE often ignites students’ desire to continue learning: More than 70 percent of county vocational-technical high school graduates go on to college or further technical training.
CTE addresses business needs by closing the skills gap.
- CTE builds a strong pipeline of well-prepared young people to meet future workforce needs in STEM, health sciences, digital media, and various trade and service careers.
- Adult CTE programs offer short-term training to fill jobs in high-demand industries like advanced manufacturing, health care, and construction.
- CTE continually evolves in response to regional and statewide employment needs: New Jersey’s vocational-technical school districts add and revamp their CTE programs to align with regional workforce demands.
- Employers actively engage with CTE programs as advisory board members, curriculum advisors, mentors, guest speakers, and skill evaluators, ensuring that programs are current with industry standards and needs.