By Phil Berkenbile, Ed. D.
State Director of Career and Technology Education

CareerTech Education Helps Individuals, Communities Thrive

More than 11 million high school students and adults are enrolled in career and technology education in the United States, according to the U.S. Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

In Oklahoma last year career and technology education experienced more than 135,000 enrollments in 1,214 programs in middle, junior and high schools. Adult enrollments in full-time programs, industry-specific training, adult and career development and the Training for Industry Program totaled 373,467.

In a recent Time magazine article, career and technology education was listed as one of five initiatives to combat the ever-increasing dropout rate of high school students in America. The article says that students don’t see the connection between school and later life. Career and technology education gives students real-world skills.

Our instructors help students make those connections between what they learn and experience and how they can apply that to careers. In fact, a 1998 University of Michigan study revealed high-risk students are 8 to10 times less likely to drop out if they enter a CareerTech program.

The Time article also dispels the notion that students who enroll in CareerTech classes do not go on to college or further education. Career tech education can be a pathway to further education in college or at a technology center. Nationwide students who have taken CareerTech classes enter college at the same rate as other high school graduates.

Many students in CareerTech programs enter college having earned college credit for those courses. Through partnerships with community colleges, students can earn more than 40 hours of credit depending on program. CareerTech students also gain valuable certifications and licenses required for many high wage jobs. 

Through student organizations, individuals also develop leadership skills and learn about teamwork. Last year in Oklahoma, more than 73,000 secondary and post-secondary students were members of the seven student organizations.

Beyond high school, CareerTech offers customized training and services for new companies, existing businesses, small businesses wanting to expand and individuals just getting started in businesses. Many companies view CareerTech as their competitive advantage in the market place.

Services such as small business development, self-employment training and business incubators at the technology centers help companies grow stronger. Safety training programs can dramatically reduce workplace injuries and, as a result, save millions of dollars in workers’ compensation premiums for Oklahoma companies.

CareerTech often is an incentive for businesses to locate in our state because companies have access to workforce development assistance and training for newly hired employees under the Training for Industry Program. In fiscal year 2005 the Training for Industry Program provided training for almost 10,000 new jobs.

Citizens in Texas County of the Oklahoma panhandle will decide in July if they want to form a technology center district so that the same opportunities will be available them.

Each of the nine school districts in Texas County passed resolutions to conduct elections to form a technology center district.  After determining the feasibility of forming a technology center district, the State Board of Career and Technology Education called for elections in each district submitting a resolution. Those districts are Goodwell, Guymon, Hardesty, Hooker, Optima, Straight, Texhoma, Tyrone and Yarbrough. 

I look forward to expanding our services to the people in Texas County and throughout our state. We know we help individuals succeed in the workplace, in education and in life.