The education policy of the next federal administration is still being formulated. While there will be many issues with which we as union educators disagree, there is at least one initiative that should receive support from across the political spectrum – expanding career and technical training for high school and community college students.
Today’s technical training goes far beyond the woodshop of decades ago.
This often involves paid apprenticeships at major companies, and can range from computer-aided design and software development to cybersecurity and robotics.
Daily Times, Alexa Rogales/AP Photo
In New York City, training in electric vehicle technology includes; in Syracuse, New York It is a new high school dedicated to science and technical careers, supported in part by Micron Technology, Inc., a leading semiconductor and microchip manufacturer.
In Cleveland, Ohio, students learn about health care in… school inside hospital, MetroHealth Medical Center in the city. They take a biomedical curriculum, in addition to more traditional high school coursework. Students have access to internships and networking opportunities in the hospital system, which may lead to careers in the system. Juniors and seniors also have the opportunity to earn state-tested nursing assistant (STNA) credentials.
In Los AngelesAt Roybal School, students can prepare themselves for a career in the entertainment industry, working with local professionals on skills ranging from set and costume design to lighting, sound, editing and animation.
Partnerships with Microsoft They help educators from communities as diverse as New York City, Wichita, Kansas, and San Antonio, Texas, support students in building a future-ready environment Skills such as AI literacy.
The high school graduation rate for Career Technical Education (CTE) students is approx 90 percent– 15 percentage points higher than the national average for all academic programs. almost Three quarters of CTE students decide to attend college.
The economy was the most important issue for voters in the November election. This economic anxiety reflects a long-term trend -… percentage The proportion of Americans who earn more than their parents has declined steadily over the past 80 years. Preparing new generations for the high-paying jobs of the future could help reverse this trend.
Jobs related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are well-paid and in demand, including in areas across the country that have suffered from deindustrialization.
For example, Micron’s investment in our training program in Syracuse is designed to help it provide staff for the 2.4 million-square-foot computer chip manufacturing plant it plans in the Syracuse area, an investment that is set to bring 50,000 High paying jobs in the area.
Such initiatives have the potential to sustain high-tech manufacturing in the United States and help correct the geographic, educational, and economic gaps that have polarized many of our communities. It should not be a political or partisan issue. Micron’s planned Syracuse plant will provide employment opportunities to people In Syracuse Blue And the red counties surrounding the city.
But while apprenticeships and similar programs are common in Europe, spending on high school technical training in the United States represents a small percentage of education budgets. more than 8 out of 10 Voters across the political spectrum support increased government funding for skills training.
The vast majority of education spending in the United States occurs at the local and state levels, but the federal government can play an important role. By investing more in the Perkins Act, Task Forces, the Every Student Succeeds Act, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the national government can help drive additional spending for programs that will lead to a better economy and better lives for families across the country.
Randi Weingarten is president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Michael Mulgrew, a former Brooklyn career-technical high school teacher, is president of the United Federation of Teachers, AFT’s affiliate in New York City.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors.
