Career and Technical Student Organizations Serving Career and Technical Education Students in Pennsylvania 1 Dear CTSO Leaders, As the leader of a statewide trade association dedicated to the growth and development of the technology industry in Pennsylvania, I am keenly aware of the need for a highly-skilled, well-trained, and motivated workforce. At the Technology Council of Pennsylvania, we are strong advocates for advancements in and the promotion of S.T.E.M. education, as well as career and technical training, in order to prepare our young people to succeed in the 21st Century, global economy. That is why we support the work of Pennsylvania’s Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) and the critical role they play in today’s education community. For nearly 70 years, CTSOs have been able to extend teaching and learning through a variety of targeted programs, public-private partnerships and leadership development initiatives that produce technically advanced, employable students to meet the needs of this country’s diverse employer base. Today, the work of CTSOs has never been more valuable as our economy demands workers with a strong understanding of science, technology, engineering and math concepts as well as hands-on technical expertise. The co-curricular approach of CTSOs uniquely positions these organizations to enhance student skill sets and better prepare them to excel in their chosen careers. In order for Pennsylvania and the United States to not only compete, but succeed on a global stage, we need to ensure that the very technology and innovation companies that are driving this global economy have the availability of a well-qualified workforce. CTSOs are a valuable part of this mission and I encourage you to learn more about these organizations and support the important role they play in our educational system. Sincerely, David F. Bonsick President and Chief Executive Officer Technology Council of Pennsylvania 2 Pennsylvania Fact Sheet CTE STATE OVERVIEW At the secondary level, CTE is delivered through comprehensive high schools and regional technology centers. Of the regional technology centers, most provide CTE courses for part of a student’s school day, but around a dozen centers provide comprehensive technical and academic courses. At the postsecondary level, CTE is delivered through the state’s community colleges. 60,451SECONDARY 81,062POSTSECONDARY 99% of CTE high school students graduated. CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA 72% Career and Technical Student Organizations extend Career and Technical of CTE postsecondary Education in Pennsylvania through networks of programs, business and students remained community partnerships and leadership experiences at the school, state and national levels. Career and Technical Student Organizations provide Pennsylvania enrolled or transferred to students with opportunities to apply academic, technical and employability another institution. knowledge and skills necessary in today’s workforce. CTSOs serve a total of 74,288 Pennsylvania students through DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, 69% FEA, FFA, HOSA, SkillsUSA and TSA. For a report of CTSO participation by each achieved an industry- school, please see the section in this document. recognized credential, certificate or degree. PERKINS FUNDING Pennsylvania received $40,722,778 for Fiscal Year 2013, $1.6 million less than in 2012 and $8.4 million less than in 2010. Of funds available for local distribution, about 70 percent are allocated to secondary CTE and 30 percent are allocated to postsecondary CTE. 3 Learning that works. Nine organizations. development in unique ways. contextualized academic instruction and have Each organization operates independently with the opportunity to work in settings where the One common mission. school-based chapters, state-based associations career skills learned in the classroom can be Career and Technical Student Organizations and national offices creating opportunities and utilized. Participation in a local chapter includes (CTSOs) provide the American education system experiences that a school or even a state could activities designed to expand students’ leadership the tools to educate the student for college and not achieve on their own. abilities, contextualize their academic instruction, careers in ways that are uniquely American. By At the national, state and local levels, CTSOs encourage them to pursue their education and integrating into Career and Technical Education offer diverse programming that is designed equip them with job-related skills in their career programs and courses, CTSOs extend teaching to enhance classroom instruction and four field of interest. Students are also able to develop and learning through networks of programs, common organizational goals: academic and leadership, teamwork, creativity and business and community partnerships and career achievement, leadership development, technical skills. leadership experiences at the school, state and professional development; and community Students participate in local, state, national national levels with different opportunities to service. and international career-based competitions, learn academic, technical and employability skills, At the local level, CTSO chapters operate as aligned with state academic standards, designed which American business and industry say are in-school, co-curricular programs led by CTE to measure their academic understanding and necessary in today’s workforce. teachers as advisers in middle schools, high skills development. schools and postsecondary institutions. Scholarships and awards also encourage Connecting classrooms to The U.S. Congress has specifically authorized students to continue their career-path education a large network. CTSOs in the Perkins Act, and they operate as and assume personal responsibility for their own Each of the nine CTSOs focus on specific national not-for-profit organizations divided into career readiness. career fields and tailors their programing to state associations and local school chapters. By providing students with contextualized the students, teachers and businesses in those Funds from the Perkins Act can be used to support academic instruction and the opportunity to fields. With its singular focus on a specific set local CTSOs. work in settings where the career skills learned in of career areas (Career Clusters), each CTSO the classroom can be utilized, CTSOs effectively develops partnerships with business and industry, Students are the core of facilitate the development of students’ academic, teachers and colleges and at the local, state and each organization. technical and employability skills. national levels that support and enhance student Students participating in CTSOs learn 4 Career and Technical Student Organizations ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL SKILLS CTSOs apply learning through classroom activities and programs, such as competitive events, that provide unique opportunities to motivate students to demonstrate classroom instruction. CTSOs engage businesses in the education process to identify essential career ready skills. EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS CTSOs create leaders through the development of 21st Century Skills such as creativity, problem solving, teamwork and goal setting. STUDENT, COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS Making an Impact ENGAGEMENT With more than 1.5 million student members combined, CTSOs have a definite CTSOs enhance student engagement by empowering impact on students’ overall college and career readiness: them in classroom, community and career activities. EDUCATION Students who participate According to the National Students who participate ATTAINMENT in CTSOs demonstrate Research Center for Career in school organizations in According to the National higher levels of and Technical Education, 10th grade have higher high Research Center for academic engagement participating in leadership school grade point average Career and Technical and motivation, civic and professional and are more likely to be Education, participating in engagement, career self- development activities in enrolled in college at 21 leadership and professional efficacy and employability a CTSO raises students’ than other students. development activities in skills than other students, educational aspirations. a CTSO raises students’ educational aspirations. and the more students participate in CTSO activities, the better the results. 5 Career and Technical Student Organizations The mission of Business Professionals of DECA prepares emerging leaders and Bringing business and education together America is to contribute to the preparation entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, in a positive working relationship of a world-class workforce through hospitality and management in high schools through innovative leadership and career advancement of leadership, citizenship, and colleges around the globe. development programs. academic and technological skills. <www.deca.org <www.fbla.org <www.bpa.org To promote personal growth and leadership The Future Educators Association (FEA), Making a positive difference in the lives development through Family and Consumer sponsored by PDK International, is a of students by developing their potential Sciences education. Focusing on the student organization that provides students for premier leadership, personal growth multiple roles of family member, wage interested in education-related careers and career success through agriculture earner and community leader, members with activities and materials that help them education.