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With the school year underway, not every high school senior is considering which college to attend. Some are learning in high school how to become plumbers, welders, carpenters, electricians, mechanics or HVAC technicians. They will leave ready to enter a job market that is in need of their skills.
These career paths are among just a few of what used to be called vocational-technical trades. Schools are now calling them CTE, or Career and Technical Education programs. They are critical career paths for many students who opt to enter the workforce as soon as they can after high school.
It's become clear over the past few decades that our communities and our nation need more specialized workers. Ask any employer or small businessperson or homeowners and they'll tell you that.
And today, they pay a family wage.
The U.S. Department of Education defines CTE as such: It is a "pathway" that provides students with the academic, technical, and real world knowledge, skills and experience they need to be prepared for a variety of careers. CTE gives students training and skills in many different types of careers in high-growth industries such as science and technology, healthcare, and business management. The programs -- as area schools will attest -- are personalized and hands-on.
It's good that schools in our region will soon be doing outreach to area middle school students to show just what CTE programs have to offer. Kids need to be shown how learning such skills can lead to a rewarding life.
As parents talk with their children about possible career paths, don't leave CTE options out of the mix.
They are the right choice for many students.