New and improved CareerTech Pushes Modern Image

Reprinted with permission
The Oklahoman
© March 14, 2007

MOST of us probably still think of it as vo-tech - that place where teenagers interested in agriculture or cars but certainly not college headed off to while their peers tackled math and science. Talk about an image problem.

Officials with the state's Career Technology centers are out to change such outdated perceptions. They aren't just trying to paint the picture of modern-day centers that churn out students prepared for sophisticated vocations. They're talking money. Lots of it.

A new study shows that students who complete a full-time CareerTech training program will make as much as $371,000 more during their lifetimes than those who seek no education beyond high school. Over time, the study estimates a nearly $2.1 billion economic gain for the 11,000 students who completed a training program in 2002 and an estimated $157 million in tax revenue. Mark Snead, an economist and head of the Center for Applied Economic Research at Oklahoma State University, conducted the study.

Oklahoma's CareerTech system has long received national acclaim for its programs. But it's also had more than 15 minutes as the center of controversy. Those who take the time to look closely at the system will see many efforts not just to update its image, but to create programs that will help students succeed in the work place and in higher education.

CareerTech has worked with higher education so students can earn college credit. An impressive pre-engineering program has quickly drawn the interest of students, and judging by the college placement rate, is giving participating high school students a collegiate leg up. Health care programs also are popular among students and may become critical as the state looks to fill an increasing demand for health care workers.

Executive director Phil Berkenbile said CareerTech programs have about 8,000 students on waiting lists and dozens of new program requests. Clearly, this isn't your grandmother's vo-tech.