Tips for Having CTE Month Officially Recognized by Your State or Community

Getting a proclamation for CTE Month is not too difficult—if you know how to go about it. In many areas, a mayor or governor can issue a proclamation without action from the city council or state legislature. Following are some tips on how to get a proclamation issued with or without legislative action.

Download the Sample Proclamation (MS Word)

When a Public Official Can Issue a Proclamation without Legislative Approval

1. Call your mayor’s or governor’s office to determine how proclamations are issued. When you call, be prepared to learn that the process may take a few months. Also, have your materials ready, such as the sample proclamation at the link above. Localize relevant facts about career and technical education and simply explain why CTE Month should be recognized by your city or state.
   
   
2. Try to elicit support from other education leaders in your city or state. You can have them contact their mayors, city councils, and local and state officials about CTE Month. Letters to the governor from local education associations will reflect statewide interest and support.
   
   
3. When a proclamation is issued, express your thanks and appreciation. Include the governor and/or mayor in ceremonies planned for the week. Remember to inform the media about CTE Month and the official attention you have received. Finally, send a letter of appreciation to the official after the week’s activities are over.

When Legislative Action is Required to Issue a Proclamation

1. If you need to work through the city council or state legislature, start now. Again, start by finding out what the process is for getting official recognition. Your local representative’s office can tell you how to start (even if you intend to ask another representative in your state to sponsor the proclamation).
   
   
2. A resolution will need to be sponsored by a member of the appropriate governmental body. Find someone who is supportive of career and technical education or who has voiced an interest in education concerns. (This would also be a good time to educate a government official who has not worked with you.)
   
   
3. Again, have prepared materials for use in drafting a resolution or proclamation. Be ready to share your insight about career and technical education and the significance of CTE Month. For example, indicate how many teachers are in your city or state, the valuable contribution they make to the community, how much the resolution will mean to the teacher voters, and how this recognition might have a positive impact on the overall community.
   
   
4. Find out how you can help your sponsor ensure passage of the resolution. Like any bill, you have to lobby. This will require a plan and some hard work. You may need to get other legislators to co-sponsor the resolution. You can start by writing your legislators about the resolution and soliciting their support. Telephone follow-up may be needed with your sponsor and with other legislators to remind them of the importance of this issue to educators. They may be in a good position to help your sponsor in moving the bill.
   
   
5. After the resolution is passed, show appreciation to your sponsor and to everyone who supported the resolution.