Five Major Cities Sign Compact to Expand Career and Technical Education Programs

Employee Relations, Jobs, Skills and Training

Five major cities this week signed a compact to expand their career and technical education (CTE) programs and to more closely link their high schools with well-paid jobs and higher education in their local markets.  With the help of a grant from the American Federation of Teachers, Miami, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Peoria joined New York in bringing together educators, school districts, community colleges, city governments and business groups to engage young students with what they describe as "real-world training and academic content that leads to further educational opportunities for 21st-century jobs."  The approach is inspired by CTE programs in New York City, which are considered a national leader in collaborating with partners such as IBM to create innovative, high-quality career and technical education pathways.  Meanwhile, as Congressional efforts to reauthorize federal law that oversees CTE programs lag, HR Policy Association is joining with the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to develop legislative language that would ensure these programs maintain strong links between schools and employers so that programs' graduates obtain skills in demand by employers.