Career Technical Education (CTE) is more important than ever in today’s rapidly changing world. Former CTE students are heroes serving on the front lines during this global pandemic. They are healthcare workers pulling 16-hour shifts and treating our loved ones. They are manufacturing employees working tirelessly to provide life-saving supplies to hospitals, senior care facilities and grocery stores. They are educators delivering the best education possible to their students online. They are scientists racing to find a vaccine. And they are transportation, distribution, and logistics professionals working day and night so that we all have the supplies we need.

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As Career Technical Education (CTE) Month draws to a close, we reflect on the collective successes of our community and the work still to be done. The 21st-century economy creates new, skilled careers faster than ever, and CTE programs are well-positioned to prepare learners — both youth and adults — for these opportunities. As evidence of the existing skills gap, nearly 60 percent of companies report having difficulty filling job openings because of a lack of qualified applicants, which can cost companies large and small millions of dollars per year in lost productivity and recruitment. …

This week, we are excited to celebrate two incredibly important events: National School Counseling Week and the beginning of Career Technical Education (CTE) Month! We are honored to recognize the incredible work that school counselors do day in and day out to prepare students for education and career success, and eager to highlight the role they play in encouraging students to participate in CTE pathways.

CTE begins as early as middle school, and provides students with the core academic, technical and professional skills necessary to succeed in a specific career area. Students who participate in CTE are able to gain…