CTE- Ebook

Why is CTE Important in Middle School? In 2018, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) was signed into law which provides funding to schools for CTE programs, including the middle grades. Congress has committed to providing $1.4 billion annually for the creation and expansion of CTE programs across the country. This aligns with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which defines middle school as grades 5-8. With this emphasis, many are wondering why CTE is important in middle school. CTE classes in middle school expose students to various college and career options and equip them with transferable skills for high school and beyond. The coursework is introductory, providing students with ample experience to inform their decisions about high school electives. Middle school CTE classes add relevance to what students are learning through real-world options and connect academics with career and postsecondary pathways. CTE can also be helpful for dropout prevention by addressing common challenges in the transition to high school such as disengagement and lack of preparation. Many parents, administrators, and educators may feel that middle school students are too young to be thinking about career choices, but when framed correctly it’s easy to see why CTE is important in middle school. At this stage, coursework is more about career exploration than job training, and students are free to try other areas in high school if they didn’t like the classes they took in middle school. The main emphasis is that CTE helps students prepare for college as well as careers by providing them with real-world skills they’ll need in adulthood, regardless of what path they take.

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