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February 2021: Career and Technical Education Month

WHEREAS, career and technical education in Michigan prepares students at the secondary and postsecondary levels to have the academic, technical, and work-behavior skills to enter, compete, and advance in education and throughout their careers; and,

 

WHEREAS, career and technical education offers a diverse delivery system that provides students with leadership opportunities in various career fields, allowing for the rigorous and relevant application of workplace skills while incorporating reading, writing, and mathematics; and,

 

WHEREAS, career and technical education serves as a career and college-ready connection and is the foundation of a strong and well-educated workforce; and,

 

WHEREAS, career and technical education offers students opportunities to earn college credit, industry certification, and licenses in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand fields, as aligned with Michigan’s strategic education plan to expand secondary learning opportunities for all students and increase the percentage of adults with a post-secondary credential; and,

 

WHEREAS, career and technical education provides students with work-based learning experiences to provide Michigan with a highly skilled, sustainable workforce, which will help achieve the state’s goal of reaching 60% postsecondary educational attainment rate by 2030; and,

 

WHEREAS, according to the Michigan Department of Education, career and technical education enrollment continues to rise in Michigan, with CTE program completers increasing by over 86 percent from 27,014 in 2014-2015 to 50,416 in 2019-2020; and,

 

WHEREAS, during this month, we join with the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and the Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education to encourage youths and adults in Michigan to be ambassadors for career and technical education and to send the message that Michigan career and technical education students are prepared for the 21st century high-wage, high-skilled, and in-demand jobs, a key component in making Michigan a Top 10 education state;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, proclaim February 2021 as Career and Technical Education Month in Michigan.