Career and Tech ED (CTE)

What is Career and Technical Education?

Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides students and adults with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to develop skills they will use throughout their careers. CTE prepares students for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies, and makes academic content accessible to students by providing it in a hands-on context. CTE is a main component in career planning by preparing students to be college and career ready.

Through CTE, students:

  • Explore career options in middle and high school, especially careers in high-demand, high-growth fields such as healthcare and green technologies.
  • Identify a career goal.
  • Write a learning/career plan, with help from educators and school counselors, that identifies the high school and college-level academic and skills-based classes, training programs and apprenticeships that will best prepare them for their career path of choice.
  • Take classes in high school and college that apply math, science and other academic subjects in real-life, hands-on ways.
  • Pursue a rigorous Program of Study to a registered apprenticeship, industry certifications and two- and four-year college options.
  • Earn tuition-free college credits as well as high school credits required for graduation.
  • Become leaders by participating in skills competitions and community service.

How is Career and Technical Education supported in Illinois

page_cte_efe_region_ilIn 1984 legislation was passed creating Education for Employment (EFE) regions responsible for the delivery of Career and Technical Education in the State of Illinois.

The Northwest Suburban Education to Career Partnership is one of 58 regions in the State of Illinois that works within the EFE framework.

The Career Partnership responsibilities include:

  • The fiscal management of state and federal grants.
  • Formula reimbursement for classes that are in the ISBE approved program sequence.
  • CTE Staff Professional Development
  • Career Advisors in area high schools
  • Regional Organizational Goals to the Illinois State Board of Education

In addition, the following 3 state agencies provide CTE to students receiving agency services in locations throughout the state:

  • Illinois Department of Corrections
  • Illinois Department of Mental Health
  • Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services