Summary: The Importance Of Career And Technical Education

Introduction
The literature review focuses on the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for high school students. According to Junior Achievement USA (“Are Students Ready for the Workplace?”2013) Many business have indicated that they believe that half of high school students are equipped with the most important workplace skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and written and oral communication. A student that is work ready possesses the specific skills for a specific job that is described in the occupation description profile. The economy of today demands a workforce that is better educated because jobs in todays economy require students to posses more complex skills and knowledge than those jobs of the past.

According to Education Writers Association (Study: Big Benefits of Career and Technical Education, 2016) academic outcomes are better when students are engaged and feel connected to their schoolwork and the benefits extend well beyond high school graduation. This is done through the combination of CTE and core courses. These courses provide more interesting coursework using hands on learning resulting in less behavior problems. CTE programs enable high school students to earn college credit for courses completed in high school. A major advantage of CTE programs is that students enrolled will be able to relate or connect what is being learned to real world work situations though internships and worksite visits thus making relevance to what is being

High school student that are enrolled and actively participate in CTE are more academically actively engaged, perform better, and graduate at higher rates. According to Career and Technical Education (CTE Works for High School Students, 2016) The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 93 percent, compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 80 percent. According Southeast Education Network (“Why CTE Matters for All Students”, 2015) the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 of 20 fastest growing occupations require an associate’s degree or less, and of the 20 occupations with the largest numbers of new jobs projected for 2018, 13 require on-the-job training or an associate’s degree. This means CTE programs can prepare student and provide them with skills needed to attain these jobs. According to We Are Teachers (“13 Things we Wish People Knew About Career Tech Ed”, 2015) taking CTE courses can mean earnings as much as $19,000 more per