Every February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month®. Career Technical Education (CTE) provides students with opportunities to gain the necessary academic knowledge and technical skills necessary to succeed in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand careers. Programs offer flexible scheduling, work-based learning, and stackable credentials that provide a pathway from education to employment not only for recent high school graduates, but also for returning adults, veterans, and incumbent workers wanting to update their skills. The breadth of CTE not only helps address workforce shortages, such as those in nursing, information technology, and teaching, but helps Illinoisans meet their education and workforce goals. This month is a time to raise awareness for the contributions and importance of these programs. For more information about CTE Month and how you can celebrate it, visit this page.

The Illinois community college system is the largest provider of postsecondary CTE programs serving more than 131,000 students each year. The ICCB is looking forward to celebrating it statewide while highlighting local innovation and best practices. In order to spotlight these best practices, we need you all to share with us by emailing events, news articles, pictures (with descriptions), and other CTE project highlights to cte@iccb.state.il.us. Below are the main themes, which will be highlighted weekly throughout February:

1. Removing the Stigma: Rethink CTE
2. Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement- (please share with us any noteworthy partnerships with secondary, employers, community-based organizations, etc.)
3. Work-Based Learning
4. Data-Driven Decision Making
   

To learn more, visit: https://www.iccb.org/cte/

Be sure to also look at the following Illinois workNet resources for CTE Month 2020: 

• Work Based Learning and Apprenticeship 
• Youth Career Pathways 
• College & Career Readiness 
• Job Search Plan 
• Training Plan 
• Skills and Interest Survey