Supporting the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month.

Supporting the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month Whereas a competitive global economy requires workers who are prepared for skilled professions; Whereas not fewer than 17,000,000 new workers will be needed to support the infrastructure sector of the United States in the next decade, including to design, build, and operate transportation, housing, utilities, and telecommunications; Whereas current global economic uncertainty and volatility have fundamentally shifted entire industries within foundational sectors of the economy of the United States, creating significant demands for high-quality and efficient educational opportunities to ensure a quick and equitable recovery; Whereas career and technical education (referred to in this preamble as CTE Whereas CTE helps the United States meet the very real and immediate challenges of economic development, student achievement, and global competitiveness; Whereas, in the United States, more than 1/2 Whereas nearly 12,000,000 students are enrolled in CTE across the United States at the secondary and postsecondary levels, with CTE programs in thousands of comprehensive high schools, area technical centers, and career academies and in nearly 1,000 2-year colleges; Whereas CTE matches employability skills with workforce demand and provides relevant academic and technical coursework leading to credentials of value for secondary, postsecondary, and adult learners; Whereas CTE affords students the opportunity to cultivate the knowledge and skills to earn the credentials needed to secure careers in growing, high-demand fields; Whereas secondary CTE is associated with a lower probability of dropping out of high school and a higher likelihood of graduating on time; Whereas, according to an American Federation of Teachers poll, 94 percent of parents approve of expanding access to CTE and other programs that prepare students for jobs; Whereas students at schools with highly-integrated, rigorous academic and CTE programs are significantly more likely to meet college and career readiness benchmarks than students at schools with less integrated programs; Whereas, in 2018, Congress affirmed the importance of CTE by passing the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act ( Public Law 115224 Whereas February 23, 2023, marks the 106th anniversary of the signing of the Act of February 23, 1917 (39 Stat. 929, commonly known as the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act of 1917 That the Senate (1) supports the designation of February 2023 as Career and Technical Education Month (2) supports the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month; (3) recognizes the importance of career and technical education in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce in the United States; and (4) encourages educators, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals, administrators, and parents to promote career and technical education as a respected educational pathway for students.

Summary: This resolution supports the designation of February 2023 as Career and Technical Education Month to celebrate career and technical education across the United States.