WHAT IS CTE?

CTE is an acronym for Career and Technical Education. CTE classes are elective classes just like a foreign language, ceramics, etc. that students have the opportunity to take and get high school credit for as well as college credit in most cases. Today's cutting-edge, rigorous and relevant career and technical education prepares youth and adults for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers.

WHAT KIND OF CLASSES ARE OFFERED?

There are 26 College and Career Pathway programs in all (some are offered at the other high schools). Twenty three (23) of those are open to students from JAHS. Some examples include architecture drafting and design to welding.

WHY LOOK AT CTE CLASSES?

1) Hands On Skills:

There are real world, hands-on technical skills being actively learned in CTE classes. There are pre-CTE and full CTE classes offered.

-Foundational Courses are one (1) hour classes. A student generally takes these as freshman or sophomores. The classes offered on the JAHS campus are:

• Introduction to Construction

• Introduction to Manufacturing

• Computers in Design.(CAD) and architectural drafting and design. These are one (1) hour classes. A student generally takes these as freshman or sophomores.

-Lab Courses are three (3) hour classes. The following lab classes are offered on the JAHS campus:

• Architectural drafting and design

• Precision Machine Technology (PMT)

Other classes are offered off-site at Riley High's campus and include such skills as welding which many area employers are seeking.

2) College Credits:

• Many classes offer dual credit (high school and college credit) through Indiana University-South Bend, Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University. The credits are generally transferrable to other state Universities such as Ball State, Indiana State, Indiana University and Purdue and their regional campuses.

• The college credits earned allows many students to meet one of the requirements to earn both Academic and Technical Honors.

• In some classes students are earning 20-30 college credits. That can be enough credits equivalent to one year in college. This is equivalent to up to $12,000 in tuition at a state university that is saved.

3) NTHS (National Technical Honor Society):

The National Technical Honor Society currently serves approximately 100,000 active members and nearly a million since its inception in 1984. Over $250,000 in scholarships is awarded annually to its members. NTHS honors the achievements of top CTE students, provides scholarships to encourage the pursuit of higher education, and cultivates excellence in today’s highly competitive, skilled workforce. For over 30 years, NTHS has been the acknowledged leader in the recognition of outstanding student achievement in career and technical education. For more information link to their website: www.nths.org

4) Additional courses offered off-site (not at JAHS):

CTE offers both pre-requisite and three(3) hour lab courses at all four high schools such as welding. Additionally, CTE offers programs housed at the South Bend Fire Department and Ivy Tech Community College. CLICK HERE to link to the main CTE page for more information on other programs offered at the other campus's.

WHO TO TALK TO FOR MORE INFORMATION:

ANDREA JEFFERS is JAHS's CTE Career Guidance Specialist and her office is located in the school's library/media center across from the Auditorium.

She can be reached by phone and/or email at:

Phone: 574.393.5322

Email: ajeffers@sb.school

WHERE ELSE CAN I GET MORE INFO?

Here are some links to some other information as well to explore:

1) SB SCHOOL SYSTEM CTE WEBSITE: CLICK HERE

2) PDF on Why technical learning can benefit your student: CLICK HERE

3) PDF of the results of a national survey on CTE programs. CLICK HERE.

4) Association for Career and Technical Education website: CLICK HERE

INFORMATIONAL VIDEOS ON CTE:

1) The Career Tree Video: CLICK HERE

2) Making the Difference Video: CLICK HERE

3) First Lady Michelle Obama on CTE: CLICK HERE