February is CTE Month®

What is CTE?

Career and Technical Education, or CTE, is education that prepares students for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand jobs in a variety of fields. Whether you realize it or not, CTE makes up many aspects of everyday life—from the doctors and nurses who have treat your illnesses, the police and firemen who serve their communities, the veterinarian who cares for your pets, the mechanic who fixes your car, the chef at your favorite restaurant… the list goes on and on. CTE is everywhere.

CTE goes beyond the sharing of information and knowledge of standard classes, empowering students with wisdom and skills they can use throughout their entire careers and daily lives. Not only does CTE give students an environment to discover their passion, but it also gives guidance so their passion is given purpose and a pathway for further education and career development.

We live in a world touched by CTE, and we owe it to the next generation to provide them with the keys to unlock their potential. The last 100 years have seen advances in almost every aspect of civilization. With changes in technology, some career fields have expanded, some have maintained, others have been eliminated, and new ones have been created. The world is more connected than ever, and businesses have become global enterprises to meet economic demand. CTE is designed to grow and develop with the dynamic needs of tomorrow’s workforce and enables students to thrive in this ever-changing world.

What is CTE Month^®?

February is Career and Technical Education Month^®, or CTE Month^®, a public awareness campaign to promote the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and celebrate its accomplishments across the country. We encourage everyone to celebrate and support their local CTE programs.

Ways to Celebrate CTE Month

• Learn about the CTE programs offered in your school district
• Participate in our  CTE Month poster contest (link) 
• Host a school visit and invite members of your local community to learn about your school’s CTE programs
• Advocate for CTE by engaging legislators and the media
• Use social media to spread the word about CTE
• Use CTE Month merchandise at your school
• View our CTE Month calendar for more ideas on how to celebrate and promote CTE

As Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Help make CTE Month a success in your community and beyond!