Tim Kaine: “our Nation's continued economic progress and the social mobility of our citizens are contingent on the education and…”

“our Nation's continued economic progress and the social mobility of our citizens are contingent on the education and skills of the American workforce and its ability to adjust and fulfill the needs of the 21st century economy. Career and technical education (CTE) programs are an essential piece of every student's education, providing them access to the important knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to obtain careers in rapidly growing, high- demand fields. Today, approximately 12.2 million students across the Nation are enrolled in CTE programs offered by thousands of career academies, comprehensive high schools, CTE high schools, community colleges, and CTE centers. Through intentionally designed applied learning, these students gain workplace skills and technical training that mirror in-demand positions in the workforce. In the coming decade, a projected 3 million skilled workers will be needed to fill infrastructure positions in the United States, including jobs related to designing, building, and operating transportation, housing, telecommunication, and utilities facilities. CTE programs intentionally match employability skills with workforce demands, lowering the probability of students dropping out of high school and increasing their likelihood of graduating on time. These skills-based training programs will help fill the estimated 30 million U.S.…”