Career & Technical Education

Career & Technical Education, also known as CTE, is no longer limited to welding or carpentry courses. There are now a variety of opportunities in schools for our students. Opportunities that didn't exist as little as 10 years ago. The education and training needed for jobs has changed drastically so it is imperative for parents and schools to help prepare students.  The important thing is helping them choose the right path. A crucial step in the equation is providing opportunities for them to become knowledgeable on the different possibilities to make an educated decision. To help students, KHS has created multiple pathways to expose students to various elements they might experience in a future job.  The hope is to help students gain specific knowledge about something that might be of interest, as well as gain skills they will use if they choose that career path. From Agriculture, Welding, Construction, Audio-Visual Communications, Finance, Marketing, Manufacturing, Technology & Engineering, Web & Digital Communications, to Family & Community Services, students can make a choice in the type of classes they take to give them a leg up on their post-secondary education plans.
The next step is understanding what post-secondary education really means. It could be a degree from a four year university. It could be specific technical training from a two year technical college. It might be an apprenticeship with on the job training to become a tradesman in a variety of areas. Any of these choices can help a student gain the knowledge and skills to become successful after high school. It largely depends on their career choice. When students are asked what they want to do after high school, the most common answer is to go to college, and parents will encourage them to go that direction. Students and parents should make sure the means match the desired end. Specific technical training at a technical college might be the better choice for a particular career, while a four year degree might be essential for another occupation.
One thing is for certain: Post-secondary training/education is going to continue to be important in the coming years. A recent study conducted by Georgetown University found that 64% of jobs in Kansas will require post-secondary education by 2018 (Lumina Foundation, 2011). As educators, we must look for ways to encourage and help students choose a post-secondary path to become "trained" for that 64%. We believe these CTE pathways will help students and parents make educated decisions about their futures.

Lumina Foundation for Education, Inc. (2011). "A stronger nation through higher education - and Kansas' role in that effort".