Career & Technical Education Programs Prepare Students for College and Jobs
(Press Release by Bob Wheaton, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs for the Michigan Department of Education)
LANSING – Four career and technical education (CTE) students shared at today’s State Board of Education meeting how the specialized courses have prepared them for college and careers.
CTE officials from the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) also talked about how CTE programs prepare students for success and the need for additional funding to expand the programs.
The four students—three current and one past—highlighted achievements such as earning credentials and certifications, participating in competitions, developing leadership skills, working with state-of-the-art equipment, and engaging in work-based learning opportunities. Additionally, they discussed how CTE programs shaped their postsecondary plans, including pathways to college and career success.
“Before I had this program, I didn’t even know what I wanted to do after high school,” said Dylan Presley, 17, a junior at Ypsilanti Community High School. “It led me to a path that I didn’t even know I had.” Now Presley, who takes courses in the CTE manufacturing program, is on the path to becoming a control engineer.
Richard Brooks, 19, a 2024 graduate of Lincoln High School, had an interest in working on muscle cars such as Ford Mustangs when he was growing up. That caused him to decide to study auto technology while in high school.
Now he’s in the Michigan Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) program, employed at Toyota Research and Development in Saline in prototype development while studying advanced manufacturing technology at Washtenaw Community College.
“Pretty much everything that I am using right now, I completely learned from my CTE program,” he said. “I think the skillset that I’ve learned from (CTE) in high school has definitely benefited me in adapting and learning and applying.”
MDE’s Office of Career and Technical Education oversees rigorous academic and technical standards and career-ready practices in 2,173 high-quality secondary CTE programs and 206 CTE early middle colleges across the state. CTE covers many career clusters in areas ranging from agriculture, to skilled trades, to public safety, to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A full list can be found on the CTE Instructional Resources, by Career Cluster website.
“CTE programs contribute to meeting several goals in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “That includes Goal 4, to expand secondary learning opportunities for all students; Goal 5, to increase the percentage of all students who graduate from high school; and Goal 6, to increase the percentage of adults with a post-secondary credential. We ask the legislature and governor to help us eliminate CTE deserts and reduce opportunity gaps in Michigan by expanding CTE with more funding and encouraging additional partnerships with business and industry to support programs and offer work-based learning opportunities to students.”
Ms. Celena Mills, director of the MDE Office of Career and Technical Education, said 7,442 CTE students in Michigan in the 2022-23 school year earned postsecondary credentials—meaning an industry-recognized certification, apprenticeship certificate, state or federal license, or associate’s or bachelor’s degree. She said 27,841 CTE students received supplemental credentials that are transferable across occupations.
Among students who concentrated in CTE programs, for 2022-23, the graduation rate was 95.9%, and 95.4% reported being employed, in continuing education, or both six months later.
“Funding CTE programs provides an excellent return on investment because these programs provide great student outcomes,” Mills said. “CTE courses prepare students for higher education and prepare students for careers.”
Michigan schools fund their CTE programs with state and federal dollars and—in some cases—with local vocational millages for intermediate school districts and dollars from local foundations, businesses and industries. MDE helps to fund CTE programs.
Other presenters included Dr. Ryan L. Rowe, Career and Education Planning District administrator and CTE director for Washtenaw Intermediate School District.
Rowe discussed ongoing efforts in Washtenaw County to provide greater access to CTE programs—for all students and in particular for student groups that are historically underrepresented in CTE programs, such as students who are from racial or ethnic minority groups and students who are economically disadvantaged.
Washtenaw County is among the Michigan counties that don’t have a vocational millage. School officials are considering various funding models as part of a strategy to increase access to CTE programs.