FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2008

CONTACT: Sabrina Kidwai (703) 683-9312; skidwai@acteonline.org

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces students and faculty in career and technical education programs across the nation are set to celebrate February as National Career and Technical Education Month (CTE Month). This year’s theme is Discovering Skills for a Competitive Workforce, which highlights the critical role that career and technical education plays in developing youth and adults for the workforce. Schools across the nation will showcase programs through activities that illustrate the significance of CTE programs and their impact on the economic growth of the country.

With more than 15 million students taking CTE courses, students are acquiring skills and knowledge that meet the needs of the country for a skilled, qualified and competitive workforce. CTE graduates are 10-15 percent more likely to be in the labor force and earn eight to nine percent more than graduates of academic programs, according to a 2001 Russell Sage Foundation study.

Schools will host a variety of events including open houses, job fairs, guest speakers and advocating with local government officials. To help promote this year’s CTE Month celebration, ACTE launched its first national contest for students to develop and produce a 30-second public service announcement (PSA). This year’s winning entry, entitled “Finding Your Way,” was submitted by students from Summit Technology Academy, located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. ACTE and its members are distributing copies of the PSA via the Internet and to television stations across the nation.

CTE Month will kick off with Annual National Job Shadow Day Friday, February 1. Job Shadow Day is a program founded by JA Worldwide and promoted by a consortium of organizations including America’s Promise, ACTE, Society of Human Resource Management, ING and Magazine Publishers of America. ACTE is partnering with The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education (CEE) in co-sponsoring National Entrepreneurship Week as part of CTE Month, February 23 - March 1, 2008. Representatives Brian Baird (D-WA) and Phil English (R-PA), co-chairs of the CTE Congressional Caucus, introduced House Resolution 930 supporting CTE Month to help educate members of Congress about the importance of CTE.

ACTE staff will visit McKinley Technology High School in Washington, DC, on February 19, and hill staff and other dignitaries have been invited. The school provides students the opportunity to pursue an intense focus in bio/medical technology, information technology, or broadcast technology. Students and teachers engage in project-based curriculum and a learning environment that is digitally enhanced to support academic achievement.

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. It provides advocacy, public awareness and access to information, professional development and tools that enable members to be successful and effective leaders. Founded in 1926, ACTE has more than 29,000 members including teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.

###