our Nation's continued economic competitiveness relies on the education and skills of the American workforce and its ability to meet and adapt to the 21st-century economy. Career and technical education, CTE, programs are a critical component to every student's education, creating diverse pathways into further education and developing careers. Today, approximately 11.5 million students are enrolled in CTE, encompassing every State through nearly 1,700 two-year and thousands more secondary CTE centers, comprehensive high schools career academies and CTE high schools. According to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Career, Technical and Adult Education, in 2012, the average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs was 93 percent, compared with the national average of 80 percent. These students gain real-world skills through applied learning, and integrate their academic curriculum with technical and employability skills. In addition, our Nation's continued economic competitiveness relies on the skill of the American workforce and its ability to meet and adapt to the 21st-century economy. CTE prepares students with education and training leading to industry-recognized credentials, including certifications, licenses, certificates and degrees, in a wide variety of fields. According to the U.S.…
On the recordFebruary 16, 2017
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