Moving Career Technical Education to Head of Class
Political Desk
August 16, 2005
Over the past decade 75% of Californian’s post secondary Career Technical Education programs (a.k.a.: Vocational Education or Industrial Arts) have been eliminated. As a result, the state currently lacks the skilled workforce it once enjoyed. Furthermore, statistics show that only 30% of high school graduates will go on to earn a four year college degree leaving the remaining 70% lacking the skills needed in today’s competitive work place.
By not addressing the educational needs of over 70% of today’s youth we are doing them and our state a disservice,” commented Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-15). To reverse this growing trend, Maldonado, in conjunction with private industry and local schools hosted a series of student demonstrations today at the state capitol to highlight the importance of Career Technical Education (CTE) in California and Maldonado’s SB 825 the “Career Tech Accountability Act of 2005”.
Currently, California lacks the same basic accountability standards for Career Technical Education programs that it has for other core subjects like math and science. For the first time ever Maldonado’s legislation will set basic accountability standards for CTE programs.
For the California education system to move forward and address the needs of all its students and the state’s economy we need to fully embrace Career Technical Education. To achieve this goal the state must set basic accountability criteria for CTE programs,” said Maldonado. “Our education dollars are too precious to be wasted on substandard programs that do not meet the needs our students and our state.”
Maldonado’s bill is going to be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee tomorrow, and to date it has not received a dissenting vote.
Director of Academies at Washington Unified School District, Ron Pina, one of the participating educators said, “A strong and robust Career Technical Education system bridges the gap between core subject ideas and practical applications. We take what students learn in their core classes like math and science and bring them to life in CTE classes. Students learn and experience science and math through the chemistry and physics of their culinary arts, mechanics and construction classes.”
Maldonado went on to say, “The purpose of the public education system should go beyond preparing students for tests. It is to prepare students for the challenges they will face as adults by teaching them the skills they need to succeed.”
Students from the greater Sacramento area participated in the day’s activities by demonstrating their skills by first designing a utility shed with Computer Assisted Design program (CAD) then building it, repairing and rebuilding a car engine using state of the art techniques and equipment, providing a gourmet lunch for fellow students and producing a time-lapse video of the day’s demonstrations for media outlets.
By not addressing the educational needs of over 70% of today’s youth we are doing them and our state a disservice,” commented Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-15). To reverse this growing trend, Maldonado, in conjunction with private industry and local schools hosted a series of student demonstrations today at the state capitol to highlight the importance of Career Technical Education (CTE) in California and Maldonado’s SB 825 the “Career Tech Accountability Act of 2005”.
Currently, California lacks the same basic accountability standards for Career Technical Education programs that it has for other core subjects like math and science. For the first time ever Maldonado’s legislation will set basic accountability standards for CTE programs.
For the California education system to move forward and address the needs of all its students and the state’s economy we need to fully embrace Career Technical Education. To achieve this goal the state must set basic accountability criteria for CTE programs,” said Maldonado. “Our education dollars are too precious to be wasted on substandard programs that do not meet the needs our students and our state.”
Maldonado’s bill is going to be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee tomorrow, and to date it has not received a dissenting vote.
Director of Academies at Washington Unified School District, Ron Pina, one of the participating educators said, “A strong and robust Career Technical Education system bridges the gap between core subject ideas and practical applications. We take what students learn in their core classes like math and science and bring them to life in CTE classes. Students learn and experience science and math through the chemistry and physics of their culinary arts, mechanics and construction classes.”
Maldonado went on to say, “The purpose of the public education system should go beyond preparing students for tests. It is to prepare students for the challenges they will face as adults by teaching them the skills they need to succeed.”
Students from the greater Sacramento area participated in the day’s activities by demonstrating their skills by first designing a utility shed with Computer Assisted Design program (CAD) then building it, repairing and rebuilding a car engine using state of the art techniques and equipment, providing a gourmet lunch for fellow students and producing a time-lapse video of the day’s demonstrations for media outlets.
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