Schools lead the way but the system must change: rethinking career and technical education

This report explores the findings of The Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) studies around the country that represent the variety of efforts being used to reinvent Career and Technical Education. The author profiles district schools, charter schools, after-school programs, and a tuition-free independent school. Some started in the early 1900s, others opened their doors just a few years ago. The range of models provides a glimpse into the diverse ways educators across the country are attempting to reinvent career pathways. In these samples, the author found encouraging examples of educators breaking down institutional barriers to expand CTE, but also identified trends that must be addressed for CTE to fulfill its promise. Findings indicate that educators and policy leaders must push harder to: (1) develop systematic training for in-demand careers; (2) provide accessible information about employment prospects to guide student choice; (3) create consistent work-based learning opportunities; (4) improve the quality of basic education; (5) improve access to high-quality schools and programs; (6) identify outcomes and student demographics, especially for part-time programs and; (7) leverage opportunities from post-secondary and business partnerships.

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