Once one of the most disparaged forms of education in the United States, Career Technical Education (CTE) has emerged in the past decade as one of the most promising approaches to preparing students for the future. New York City is at the forefront of the national revolution in career education. The number of New York City high schools dedicated exclusively to CTE has tripled since 2004 to almost 50 and another 75 schools maintain CTE programs. In all, about 40 percent of high school students take at least one CTE course, and nearly 10 percent attend a dedicated CTE school.
This report by the Manhattan Institute (MI) looks at the state of CTE in New York City. While MI largely praises the success of New York City’s instructional CTE programs — which have demonstrated less variable attendance and higher graduation rates — they offer recommendations to further improve the quality and effectiveness of the system. The report explores strategies for securing work-based learning opportunities for students, engaging the business and industry community, and certifying CTE teachers and approving industry-recognized credentials to be more flexible and responsive to industry advances and emerging occupations.
