Each February, NOCTI recognizes CTE Month, a public awareness campaign that celebrates the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. As we have highlighted in previous blog posts, CTE plays an important role in our nation’s economic recovery and the development of our future workforce.
CTE inspires confidence, empowers workers, contributes to the economy, and improves the nation’s infrastructure. A successful CTE program should help students learn industry-relevant skills while also helping them reach their career goals.
As authors John Foster, Carol Hodes, and Sandra Pritz point out in their book Putting Your Data to Work: Improving Instruction in CTE, data—and a data-driven decision-making model—can translate to positive impacts in the CTE classroom. In this blog, we will explore four reasons data is key to continued CTE success.
1. Expectations for CTE are Expanding
Decades ago, CTE was a way to prepare students to enter the workforce directly after high school. Programs equipped students with marketable skills for entry-level positions that required training beyond a high school education but below a four-year degree.
Expectations for CTE programs have expanded over the last fifty years. Currently, many positions require some postsecondary education, but this doesn’t mean that college is the best option for everyone. There is a great need for skilled labor and employers are turning to secondary CTE programs to help to fill those gaps. This means that CTE programs must ensure that students are both career and college ready. And for learners to be successful in their chosen field, CTE programs must keep pace with evolving technology and complex jobs.
Assessment data is a key factor for CTE educators to gauge learning outcomes, adjust teaching strategies, and determine whether students have the skills needed to be successful on the job or to continue into postsecondary education.
2. CTE Creates a Link Between Education & Industry
CTE occupies a unique place in the education world. Not only is the instruction more “hands-on” than typical classroom learning, but learning outcomes are tied directly to specific technical skills. Whether training to be an automation technician or a master pastry chef, CTE programs create a direct link between education and industry.
In chapter three of Putting Your Data to Work, the authors note that the “level of business and industry involvement in CTE programs is directly linked to the quality of the CTE programs and its graduates.” One of the keys to fostering this involvement and engaging the industry is helping employers understand the value of third-party assessments and how assessment data impacts program improvement and the quality of CTE graduates. This data not only chronicles the quality and achievements of CTE students and programs, but also increases workplace productivity.
“Engaging employers and enhancing their understanding of the value of third-party assessments, including how assessment data are linked to program improvement and the quality of CTE graduates, is essential to building business and industry support. These assessments simultaneously improve programs, build advocacy for CTE in general, reinforce student achievement, and increase workplace productivity.” –Putting Your Data to Work, page 31
3. CTE Directly Impacts the Economy
CTE programs not only link education and industry, but also play a vital role in our nation’s economy.
- CTE learners have a chance to hone industry-relevant skills and gain practical experience in specific career paths, giving them a significant advantage when entering the workforce and pursuing higher education.
- CTE programs also increase the likelihood of success by helping students transition into the workforce with internships, apprenticeships, and other work-based learning opportunities. According to Advance CTE, 86% of learners concentrating in CTE either continued their education or were employed within six months of completing their program.
- CTE programs help provide a clear connection between talent and opportunity, making it easier for employers to identify skilled candidates and build a dynamic workforce more cost-effectively.
Increasing every learner’s chance of success is the result of continuous program improvement, which in turn is driven by using relevant data to make decisions. And whether entering the workforce or continuing to postsecondary education, successful CTE learners have a positive impact on their communities and on our nation’s economy.
4. Data Drives Program Improvement
Relevant data is the foundation of continuous program improvement. Analyzing assessment data allows educators to answer questions like:
- Are we teaching what we think we are teaching?
- Are students learning what they are supposed to be learning?
- Can we teach the subject better and promote better learning?
- How do my students compare to the national benchmarks?
High-quality data reveals more in-depth information than a simple pass or fail score. Using data comparatively and looking for patterns helps educators understand the “why” behind a student’s score and gives clues on how to improve the overall pass rate. The more granular the data, the more precise the analysis can be, and the more likely it will yield valuable insights.
More CTE Resources
From tips on analyzing NOCTI score reports to professional development workshops, we provide teachers and administrators the tools to make confident decisions to improve student success.
Here are some additional resources you may be interested in:
- Putting Your Data to Work. This book explores the various aspects of data-driven instruction with how-to examples and tips for all CTE professionals.
- Using Score Report Data for Program Improvement. This blog explores how score report data can fuel instructional improvement and how to interpret data limited by COVID disruptions.
- Professional Development Workshops. The NOCTI team is available for onsite or virtual workshops. Workshops include opportunities for participants to network with peers and practice strategies learned in the sessions.