Career Technical Education is one of the most vital and fastest growing educational arenas in the Unites States today. From Automotive Technology to Graphic Design, from Cosmetology to Interior Design, and so much more, there are a multitude of fields with over 125 different well-paying, high-demand career paths. So, Fullerton College has implemented its Career Technical Education program in order to help students prepare to enter the workforce well-trained and ready to succeed.
In 2005, the California State Legislature, with support from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, provided $20 million to fund the Governor's Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways and Workforce Development Program. The intent was to align K-12 career technical education with local community colleges based on models consistent with the California Community Colleges’ Economic Workforce Development (EWD) Program. As more educators, industry, parents, and policy makers recognized the demographic, economic, and educational benefits of revitalizing CTE, funding was both continued and increased for CTE through SB 70 and SB 1133.
To date, roughly 1.39 million has been invested in the Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Initiative (SB 70 and SB 1133) since 2005. A total of 728 projects received funding across the four years. In revitalizing CTE in California, these funds: increased students’ knowledge of and access to college and careers; supported creation of new CTE courses for students; enhanced existing courses to integrate CTE and core subject areas; provided career exploration opportunities for middle school students, job shadowing, internships, and work-based learning for older students; sponsored faculty externships and professional development; and compensated coordinators to network and build relationships with local employers and industry leaders.
The Operation Career Launch event is just one of many ways in which Fullerton College is working to insure an increase the number of students entering technical fields in order to encourage individual success and local economic growth. By providing students and community members with the ability to explore the the variety of technical careers available to them, CTE provides a path towards a better future, and also serves to strengthen our local community by providing skilled technical workers.
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