Bauyrzhan Amanov, Belen Conde, Yanzhen Guan, Jessica Parineet, Cecilia Salazar
New Jersey’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) system delivers valuable career-focused education and work-based learning to over 45,000 full-time secondary students. CTE systems around the country have been undergoing major shifts in their roles within the education system by expanding program delivery to include a focus on preparing students for enrollment in four-year colleges and universities, along with traditional offerings that enable students to pursue apprenticeships or full-time jobs after graduation.
New Jersey’s approach to delivering Career and Technical Education (CTE) stands out for its distinctive, county-based structure. New Jersey has established itself as a leader in CTE, engaging with policymakers, the business community, and educational leaders to enhance CTE’s impact. This comparative study assesses the CTE systems of five different states to inform the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools (NJCCVTS) in its future advocacy and communication strategies.