Career & Technical

CTE surge: Sixth grade is never too early for welding!

Michigan's Orchard View Pubic Schools is boosting engagement by sending sixth-graders to a local career tech center to begin exploring—and experiencing—a wide range of potential careers. 

How to steer students toward “skilled-collar” career opportunities

Roles in fields such as wind energy, robotics, hybrid and EV repair and welding are expanding career choices beyond white- or blue-collar to include a new breed, the "skilled-collar."

Not enough Black students are being exposed to STEM careers

A substantial number of Black students have the aptitude but not the access to in-demand STEM and CTE fields. This exposure gap is even wider for Black girls, a new report warns.

9 ways to partner with businesses to boost CTE programs

Businesses will derive significant benefits from developing strong relationships with your school, your students and your CTE programs. 

Educational requirements for jobs are starting to disappear. How is K12 responding?

In fact, in the last five years the share of job postings that require at least a college degree fell from 20.4% to 17.8%, according to Indeed. Are schools adapting to this trend?

Buzzword watch: ‘Durable skills’ are the new soft skills

Soft skills nudged the phrase 21st century skills out of the K12 lexicon and now it's being replaced by this latest college-and-career-oriented buzzword: Durable skills.

Non-degree pathways: Students and parents want to know more

Education leaders are encouraged to cover college and career options more comprehensively in middle school and offer more opportunities for parents to learn about post-graduation alternatives.

In-demand careers: Gender bias in K12 schools may be perpetuating a lack of exposure for students

Students have the natural talent to fill the nation’s most in-demand careers in healthcare, manufacturing, technology and finance. Education leaders may, however, be concerned that not enough students are being exposed to these fields, according to YouScience's 2024 State of the Future U.S. Workforce report.

What will drive more urgency around career prep in 2024?

Pressures on the wider U.S. workforce caused by a lack of workers with the requisite skills will drive more collaboration between K12 schools and employers.

6 key moves for leaders who want to accelerate career pathways

If you've built a career pathways program, you know it's a complex undertaking that requires outreach and collaboration with local business and organizations. If you're only in the preliminary phase, the good news is those who have developed successful initiatives have plenty of lessons to share.

7 quick tips: Helping the class of 2023 find alternatives to college

More than half of the graduating class of 2023 is opting out of the traditional four-year college education, according to a survey released Tuesday. While these numbers are no cause for alarm, leaders should be concerned that nearly one-third of the graduates were not aware of the career and technical education programs that would have given them alternative paths.

How Township High School District 214 is embedding entrepreneurship

It’s true what they say: a traditional four-year college education isn’t for everyone. But virtually every kid who walks the hallways of Township High School District 214’s six schools will get a job at some point in their lives.

Which edtech product is already changing learning for the better? 5 districts weigh in

These five leaders shared with District Administration their most valuable edtech tools and why they work so well for their students and staff. To no surprise, it all comes down to effectives and ease of access.

Why AI education will soon become an integral part of K12 education

School districts, colleges and universities across the country have entered a partnership to promote and expand AI education for all students, an area that's "exploded" since the emergence of tools like ChatGPT.

Does your school need an app? Have your students create one

Districts around the world are utilizing the program to have students create a working app—no coding experience necessary—for everything from lunch schedules to newsletters, which schools can utilize in their day-to-day operations.

Why preparing students for a career in cybersecurity is a wise choice

A recent survey indicates that the profession is significantly less likely to receive job cuts during economic uncertainty compared to other industries.

Question of the week with ChatGPT: How to promote college and career readiness

The one-size-fits-all approach to success after high school is long gone. Learn from ChatGPT about how you can ensure students have access to the opportunities around them.

Are your school counselors being pushed beyond their job descriptions?

School counselors are frequently performing tasks such as building student schedules, maintaining student files and coordinating 504 plans, according to a new survey of K12 administrators.

6 digital skills your students must master before graduating high school

Ensuring students have equitable opportunities to learn digital literacy skills is more important than ever as a record 92% of jobs require "definitely digital" or "likely digital" skills.

Are your students interested in cybersecurity? Look to these colleges

Based on criteria such as hands-on program training, privacy and ethics, and government and national security, Carnegie Mellon University, DePaul University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University rank among the top three.

College counseling: This list of the 100 best college towns could sway students

Don't underestimate the rankings of best college towns as you help high school seniors explore academic programs, luxurious dorms and extracurricular activities in their college decisions.

Anne-Marie Imafidon wants to help K-12 educators make STEM HERstory

The British computing prodigy and driving force behind shifting social norms will speak at FETC about how mentors and a growth mindset can inspire more female students to become the STEM leaders of the future. 

Why these students are grooming dogs and running a bank—at school

Blackman High School in Tennessee gives students real-world experience in pet care and finance to prepare them for their future careers and help support the school's academic programs in the process.

Learning to work: New program bridges the divide between K-12 and careers

Leaders and their teams are about to get a big boost in their efforts to create new career pathways and expand their students' access to high-quality training programs.

Successful cybersecurity relies on students getting a head start

The virtual K-12 program CYBER.ORG Range allows teachers to guide students through a controlled virtual environment where they can practice deploying and discovering cyberattacks in an effort to draw future candidates to the field of cybersecurity.

It’s time to get your students excited about computer science

Research indicates a growing need for computer science education, especially for students with disabilities.