Governor Schwarzenegger hosts the state's first Career Technical Education (CTE) Summit today in Torrance. Formerly known as vocational education, CTE gives students a pathway to postsecondary education and careers.
The summit brings together education, business, labor, foundation and political leaders to strategize how career technical education can maintain California's competitive edge in the global marketplace. As a result of the Governor's progressive CTE vision, this important program now has increased funding, bond financing and a heightened public profile-reversing decades of underinvestment by the state and local school districts, and bucking current federal efforts to reduce funding. This investment is critical to maintaining the state's global economic edge. The summit is also hosted by ACE Clearwater Enterprises. At 9 a.m. the Governor's remarks will be Webcast live at www.gov.ca.gov. Learn more about the Governor's education record at www.InvestingInOurSchools.com.
The Governor's investment put CTE back on-track. Governor Schwarzenegger increased budget dollars and championed bond funding. Since launching his CTE initiative in 2005, the Governor has increased funding by 18 percent and worked with the Legislature to include $500 million for facilities in last year's education bond. Governor Schwarzenegger is calling for more resources to improve this important curriculum.
California can improve CTE education even more. The Governor's proposed 2007-2008 budget includes $52 million to build and improve Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. This includes $20 million in ongoing funding and $32 million in new funding to reform CTE instruction in high schools and community colleges by:
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Expanding the number of courses available, and ensuring that classes are designed to prepare students for emerging and growth industries.
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Eliminating coursework duplication between high school an community college requirements.
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Increasing professional development opportunities for teachers and counselors.
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Raising CTE's academic relevance by increasing the number of courses that meet "A-G requirements" (Classes that prospective UC and CSU students must complete while in high school).
The Governor demands that California use CTE bond funds quickly and efficiently.In addition to new investments, the Governor has directed the Office of Public School Construction to expedite distribution of the voter-approved $500 million in CTE bond funding. California must maintain its competitive edge in the face of increasing competition by countries like India and China.
America isn't preparing workers for the new economy. According to the most recent available data, 30 percent of applicants have the wrong skills for available jobs (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2002) and more than 80 percent of manufacturers reported a shortage of qualified candidates (National Association of Manufacturers, 2001). Our competitors, including India, China and the European Union, are investing in CTE to ensure their workers can compete.
California's companies need and want qualified workers. Many in-state companies can't fill positions in fields like biotech, impacting their ability to compete successfully (Bay Area Economic Forum, 2005).
CTE careers are booming nationally.In 2004 the U.S. Department of Education projected a 30 percent employment growth in occupations requiring a vocational associate's degree between 2004-2008-more than double the nation's overall 14 percent employment growth.
The fastest growing fields demand CTE training. Nearly a third of the fastest-growing occupations will require an associate's or post-secondary vocational certificate (according to the U.S. Department of Labor, 2004).
California needs highly skilled laborers. The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency estimates that by 2014, California will need 132,000 nurses, 73,100 carpenters, 25,100 electricians and 11,700 welders. The state's nanotechnology sector needs 250,000 production workers in the next 10 years. Governor Schwarzenegger's CTE vision moves California's students forward.
CTE students achieve more in school.Students with a CTE academic concentration improved their 12th grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test scores by 8 points in reading and 11 points in math-compared to 4 points (reading) and no improvement (math) by non-CTE counterparts. CTE students also take more, and higher-level, math than their peers (U.S. Department of Education, 2004). CTE students earn more once they graduate. Students who take a single year of CTE post-secondary classes earn 5-8 percent more than their high school peers. (U.S. Department of Education, 2004). The Governor is fighting federal efforts to scale critical CTE investment back.
President Bush's proposed federal 2007-08 budget will cut the federal CTE budget by 50 percent. Last year, the President proposed eliminating funding altogether. Congress overturned this proposal.
If enacted, these cuts will reduce California's CTE funding by over $70 million.According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, California stands to lose $77,689,203 in federal CTE funding if the President's cuts are enacted.
In his meeting with President Bush in February, Governor Schwarzenegger urged the President to maintain California's CTE funds. In his own words: "To keep competitive, we must expand opportunities for high school and community college students to take academically rigorous courses/ and/ ensure that we are keeping pace with other forward-looking nations in career technical education. Your decision to cut funding in this area not only constrains my efforts, but the efforts of governors across the nation to build the workforce of the future and keep the American economy competitive in the years to come."
