It's Career and Technical Education Month in New Jersey...
And officials throughout the state are recognizing the value of CTE and county vocational-technical schools with proclamations and resolutions.  

Assembly Education Committee members present a CTE Month resolution at a public hearing on school funding at Camden County Technical Schools' Gloucester Township Campus   

...And at NJ county vocational-technical schools: Celebrations, student projects and special visitors
The FTC Robotics Northwest New Jersey League Tournament at Warren County Tech

The 44th Annual Quality Cup of Excellence competition at Salem County Technical High School

C amden County Technical Schools medical arts students at work on their CTE Month project: Eyeballs

US Rep. Leonard Lance toured Somerset County Vocational and Technical School's new mechatronics, engineering and advanced manufacturing  program

Students at Mercer County Technical Schools' STEM Academy are spending CTE month engaged in the  Build it Better  challenge, sponsored by New Jersey Institute of Technology

Exciting things are happening at county vocational-technical schools during CTE month.

Responding to employer demand:  New programs in advanced manufacturing
Burlington County Institute of Technology is partnering with Rowan College at Burlington County to offer an advanced manufacturing and fabrication program to county residents

The manufacturing industry is alive and well in New Jersey, but many employers say they are having a hard time finding people with the technical skills to fill their high-paying, 21st century jobs.

Working with state policy leaders, colleges and industry partners, NJ county vocational-technical schools have launched advanced manufacturing, mechatronics, digital design, electronics and automation programs to create a new pipeline of future employees. 

And they are filling up fast.


Business partners are the key to CTE success... 
Columbia Bank, which operates a branch office in the lobby of Passaic County Institute of Technology to prepare students for careers in the financial industry, is PCTI's Business Partner of the Year
Students at NJ county vocational-technical schools get a head-start on careers and college thanks to help from thousands of individuals, companies, trade unions and other employers who volunteer their time and expertise as business partners.

Each county vocational-technical school district honors a Business Partner of the Year annually.  

Take a look at some of the recent honorees and their many innovative contributions to our students' hands-on learning and real-world work experiences.

...But in this rapidly-changing economy, more business involvement is needed 
You can't prepare high school and adult students for 21st century jobs without the active and consistent engagement of the people who actually create those jobs, CTE experts told the New Jersey Business & Industry Association's Education and Workforce Development Committee at a recent meeting.

Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) Superintendent Tim McCorkell (second from right) is joined by (from left):  Dr. Siobhan Kelly, director of admissions and job placement, Camden County Technical Schools; Andrew Musick, vice-president, NJBIA; Mark Bocchieri, director of external affairs, Verizon; and Jamie Soto, MCVSD structured learning coordinator

"You know your own businesses are constantly evolving," said Tim McCorkell, superintendent of the Monmouth County Vocational School District and president of NJCCVTS.  "We need employer guidance to help us prepare your future employees for tomorrow's jobs."

Read the whole article from NJBIA's New Jersey Business Today.

In the Spotlight:  School funding
After many years of stagnant state funding for public schools, the Legislature is focused on restoring the distribution of state aid based upon current enrollment.

This is good news for career and technical education because enrollment at NJ's 21 county vocational-technical school districts has increased by 14% statewide since 2009, but state funding has remained essentially flat.  

Additional funding is needed to recognize enrollment growth and keep career programs aligned with current and emerging workforce needs.   

NJCCVTS supports the Legislature's efforts to restore enrollment-driven funding, and is asking lawmakers to consider the unique funding needs of county-based vocational-technical school districts.


And finally, career and technical education in the national news
From the New York Times:  Wanted:  Factory Workers, Degree Required
From Citylab.com:  Why apprenticeships are taking off
The New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools
invites you to
visit our web site at www.careertechnj.org
and click below to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

We look forward to sharing more good news in the months ahead.
Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter