Silver Spring, MD – February 16, 2016 – Today, the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium unveiled its new name, Advance CTE: State Leaders Connecting Learning to Work. The new name reflects and reaffirms the organization’s long history of serving as the voice of state Career Technical Education (CTE) leaders and its commitment to advancing an innovative CTE system that prepares individuals and the U.S. economy for success.

In recent years, the CTE landscape has changed dramatically, with new sectors emerging, employers demanding more and higher skills and policymakers recognizing that only CTE truly sits at the nexus of education and the workforce. At the same time, state CTE leaders – whether in departments of education, community and technical college systems, workforce development agencies or elsewhere – have growing portfolios as CTE is further integrated into states’ education and workforce systems. The name Advance CTE echoes the organization’s rich and successful history, while also demonstrating the future of the organization, its members and the overall shared mission in this time of change.

“CTE has progressed tremendously, with renewed interest and investment from leaders in the education, business, policy and philanthropic communities,” said Kimberly Green, Advance CTE Executive Director. “Our transition to Advance CTE reflects this exciting and innovative future of CTE while reinforcing our dedication to representing state CTE leaders and ensuring access to high-quality education for all students.”

“The new brand represents the direction we are moving as an association in preparing individuals for career success,” said Rod Duckworth, Chancellor, Division of Career and Adult Education, Florida Department of Education and Advance CTE President. “With CTE so central to education and workforce efforts, Advance CTE and its members are poised to provide the leadership and vision necessary to support high-quality CTE across the nation.” 

To learn more, visit: careertech.org

About Advance CTE
Advance CTE: State Leaders Connecting Learning to Work is the longest-standing national non-profit that represents State Directors and state leaders responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult Career Technical Education (CTE) across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Established in 1920, Advance CTE supports visionary state leadership, cultivates best practices and speaks with a collective voice on national policy to promote academic and technical excellence that ensures a career-ready workforce.