Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares nearly 16 million high school students each year to be college and career ready by equipping them with core-academic, employability, and job-specific skills. Funded by the Carl D. Perkins Act, which allocates $1.1 billion annually, CTE programs also involve Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) that facilitate real-world learning and connections for over 1.5 million members. The CTE framework is divided into 16 career clusters, spanning various fields such as agriculture, technology, and business.

1. Career and Technical Education
College and Career Ready Students
Career and Technical Education: Important Facts
Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders about CTE and CTSOs
Career and Technical Education courses each year. Furthermore, nearly
focuses on preparing youth and young every high school student takes at least Ÿ Nearly 16 million students
adults to be college and career ready. one CTE course. take CTE courses every
Specifically, CTE works to equip stu- On the federal level, CTE pro- school year.
dents with core-academic skills, employ- grams are funded by the Carl D. Perkins
ability skills, and job-specific skills. Act. This act currently appropriates $1.1
One of CTE’s main objectives is billion per fiscal year to be shared among Ÿ Nearly every high school
to prepare tomorrow’s workforce to states.
make a positive impact on the U.S. econ-
students takes at least one
Career and Technical Student
omy. CTE helps students to understand Organizations (CTSOs) are an instru- CTE course.
that their work in the classroom directly mental part of CTE programs. The U.S.
correlates to success in their future pro- Department of Education recognizes 10
fession. organizations as CTSOs. These organi- Ÿ One of CTE’s main objectives
“CTE allows students to get a zations provide students the opportunity is to positively impact the
contextual learning method. They learn to apply what they have learned in the
classroom to real-world situations. U.S. economy.
to find solutions to problems. They bet-
ter understand the importance of what Over 1.5 million students hold
they are learning,” says Dr. Edward membership in CTSOs each school year. Ÿ CTE is federally funded by
Smith, Chief of Program Administration,
U.S. Department of Vocational and “I think CTSOs are incredibly the Carl D. Perkins Act, which
Adult Education. important. They are a prerequisite to a is currently appropriated at
successful career,” says Glenn Thomp-
CTE courses are broken down
son, Co– Chair of the Congressional $1.1 billion.
into 16 categories, called “Career Clus-
CTE Caucus. “Being involved in
ters.” These Career Clusters include ar-
CTSOs helps students to learn about
eas such as agriculture, business Ÿ There are 10 CTSOs.
public policy, leadership, and career
management, marketing, technology, and
fields. They also make it easy for stu-
manufacturing.
dents to link to other people and make
CTE is made available through a connections.” Ÿ Over 1.5 million students hold
number of outlets: middle schools, high membership in CTSOs each
Clearly, CTE and CTSOs are
schools, technical centers, and postsec-
growing, becoming increasingly prevalent year.
ondary institutions. In fact, nearly 16
and important in the world of education.
million students participate in CTE