Partnering with Career and Technical Education (CTE)

What is CTE?

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at Chicago Public Schools are comprised of advanced training in targeted industries that ensure high school students’ success in college and careers through:

• Preparation: CTE provides rigorous, industry-focused technical instruction and work-readiness preparation that supplements the district’s college prep core curriculum.
• Engagement: Students receive real-world, industry-relevant, hands-on work experiences in the classroom and at the work sites of partners
• Exposure: CTE programs present viable college and career options, and opportunities to win scholarships, earn industry credentials, and build valuable industry networks that increase chances for student success

Program Highlights

• Opportunities to obtain industry certifications
• Participation in national student organizations and competitions
• Access to courses yielding college-credit
• Involvement in work-based learning opportunities such as job shadows and internship experiences

Why should you partner with CTE?

Business and community partnerships are critical to the success of CTE, and partnership with CTE is a "win-win" for your organization!

As a CTE partner, you will…

• Model social responsibility
• Build the future workforce for the City of Chicago
• Impact students’ lives today!

The Need

• Only about half of CPS high school students graduate
• Less than 10 out of 100 students graduate from a 4-year college within 10 years of beginning high school
• A high school diploma plus some additional higher education or career training is required for ¾ of the nation’s fastest growing occupations

The Opportunity

When schools set high bars for career education and engage the employer community, it results in:

• Higher high school graduation rates
• Improved college enrollment rates
• Better employment and earnings potential

How can you partner with CTE?

Engage Motivated Students

• Host classroom visits or provide job shadow experiences for individual students at your work site
• Visit a classroom or organized CTE event as a guest speaker
• Hire students trained in specific career pathways as paid or unpaid interns

Shape CTE Programs

• Advise on curriculum design to ensure that CTE programs are aligned with industry standards
• Train CTE teachers on the latest industry developments and/or co-teach in a classroom
• Participate in competitions, capstone events, career fairs, etc.

Expand Student Opportunities

• Sponsor students for paid internships at small businesses, non-profits, or government agencies
• Fund scholarships, college tours, or students’ fees for certification exams