Karla Denny, Director, Communications and Recognition Programs, 785-296-4876
February 7, 2008
For Immediate Release
February is Career and Technical Education Month
By Anne Gilmore
Communications Team, KSDE
TOPEKA – February 7, 2008 – The nineteenth annual Education Technology Fair took place Thursday at the State Capitol building as part of Career and Technical Education month. The event, which included students from all over the state, showcased various technology programs that are currently being used throughout schools in Kansas.
Kansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) has a long history of helping students develop the skills they need for the workplace and life. Career and Technical Education in Kansas opens up education, takes it out of the classroom, and ties it to students’ interests and ambitions for the future. The modern workplace demands individuals who have a strong academic foundation and the ability to apply academic and technical skills to real-world situations. Students are better prepared to make informed career choices if they have the opportunity to explore options during their academic careers, and to experience the workplaces of a variety of careers that may be of interest to them.
One initiative of the US Department of Education is the program “Career Clusters.” This program allows students to align education, skill development, and leadership opportunities with future employment opportunities. Career Clusters, which is currently being implemented throughout Kansas, will enable students to explore and track their path to a career they find interesting.
Other events planned for the month include the Kansas Career and Technology “Day on the Hill,” which will be held on Monday, February 11, 2008, at the Capitol and a reception and showcase of career fields on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, in the Satellite Conference Room at the Kansas State Department of Education.
For additional information about Career and Technical Education, visit the ACTE website at www.acteonline.org or the Kansas Career and Technical Education Resource Center at www.kcterc.org.
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