Career and Technical Education (CTE) is an evidence-based education system designed to improve post-secondary education and employment results. In their publication entitled Incorporating Career and Technical Education in Transition Planning for Students with Emotional Disturbance, Ellison et al. (2020) note that “youth with ED also participate in postsecondary education less frequently and have lower rates of post-school employment” (p. 2). Ellison et al. cite research that demonstrates:
- Just four credits of CTE within a concentration greatly increase the odds of having competitive employment soon after high school for youth with ED.
- CTE programs lower the rate of dropping out of high school and increase not only participation in post-secondary training but also its successful completion.
- Youth who participate in career exploration and other transition services in a quality learning environment have higher self-confidence in selecting and preparing for a career.
CTE begins with assessments, both informal and formal, to begin the selection of career paths. Career exploration through transition services and activities such as job shadowing or interviewing employers about successful employment skills, helps the student narrow their interests to certain career clusters.
Ellison et al. touch on an important key for working with students with ED: building hope. They describe three considerations as you help students with ED work through the career exploration process:
- They may tend to underestimate their potential for a career.
- They may need help understanding their rights for employment accommodations.
- They may need encouragement to consider higher education with the understanding that participation in CTE does not preclude going to college.
Helping students with ED develop a vocational identity is key to their success—and CTE may play a crucial role in that process.
Resources
- Tuesday Tip: Career and Technical Education Programs
- Indiana CTE Career Guide
- Indiana Association of Career & Technical Education Districts
Family Employment Awareness Training–Online and Statewide
January 31 & February 1, 2, 7, 8, 9
6–8:00 p.m.