Finding a Vocation: Career & Tech classes prepare kids for future

By Johna Underwood

You may have seen social media posts wondering why students in high school are not taught “real life” skills like we once were in the vocational courses offered when we were in high school. While it is true that most no longer have the traditional vocational courses we remember, high schools today offer a more specific, in-depth Career and Technology Education. Today’s CTE courses provide students the opportunity to learn the real-world skills necessary for success in a variety of fields after graduation.

Just as our communities encompass a wide variety of careers, so too do our high schools offer a variety of CTE programs. These courses are developed using labor market information for high wage, high skill, in-demand job opportunities. For example, many schools in Central Texas offer CTE programs in agriculture, food, and natural resources; health science; architecture and construction; and law and public service. Each district in our area may also offer additional CTE programs of study based on their communities’ labor market analysis.

When students enter middle or high school, they can begin their CTE path in courses that are sequenced and aligned with specific academic and technical knowledge and skills in growing career fields. As students move through the program, they continue to develop their abilities in these fields through a variety of classes. Students may even have the chance to participate in practicum courses, which are like internships.

Depending on the program of study and courses taken, students may graduate with an endorsement, may receive industry-level certifications, and/or may have courses that count toward an apprenticeship in their field of study. Additionally, through dual-credit courses, taken for both high school and college credit, students may graduate high school with an associate’s degree. This alignment between the career opportunities in the community and the CTE programs offered at our schools allows students to smoothly transition to an apprenticeship, trade school, college or university, or directly into the workforce after graduation.

For parents and students, all of the various possibilities might feel a bit overwhelming. So, how do parents and students take advantage of these CTE programs? A good first step would be to talk with your student’s school counselors. Not only will they be able to explain the variety of options available at your child’s school, they can also help your student find a program of study that suits their individual goals.

Students can change their pathway early in their high school years, but because courses are designed to deepen students’ knowledge and skills over time, it is best if they find a program of study and stick with it. Each CTE program of study offers students entry into a wide variety of future college and career choices, opening doors to many possibilities.

Even if you’re not a parent of a middle or high school student, members of our community can become CTE partners with their local schools.

High schools with CTE courses have advisory committees and would likely welcome subject matter expertise and input. Additionally, the Texas Education Agency regularly facilitates reviews of course standards. Consider volunteering to be on a committee to review the standards to ensure our students are learning necessary industry-specific knowledge and skills.

While we may have moved away from traditional vocational classes, our local schools are continually seeking to provide our students with opportunities to fulfill their own goals, teaching them the new real-world knowledge and skills they will need to become the next generation of industry leaders in our communities.

Johna Underwood teaches English at Gatesville High School.