CTE & Career Exploration - Why & How to Start Early
With over 12 million students1 across the United States engaged in Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, it’s clear that CTE is essential for today’s learners. These programs are crucial for giving students the hands-on skills they need to enrich their long-term studies and enter the workforce as dynamic, well-prepared employees. However, rolling out effective CTE programs isn’t always straight forward. One of the biggest challenges school leaders face is getting students to engage with and fully complete concentrated CTE programs* once they reach the high school level. What would it take for us to create a more appealing CTE journey that keeps students engaged all the way to graduation and beyond?
The answer may lie in introducing Career and Technical Education in earlier grades via career exploration. In this blog, we will explore the value of exposing students to careers and CTE pathways at the elementary and middle school levels and learn how this approach could enhance overall student engagement and result in more “completers” in high school CTE programs.
1 Advance CTE. (2023). CTE in Your State - State Profiles and Comparisons - Advance CTE. [online] Available at: https://careertech.org/our-vision/cte-in-your-state/
*Concentrated CTE programs refer to students who earned at least two CTE credits in a single CTE career cluster.
What is CTE in schools?
CTE, or career and technical education, refers to a range of educational programs, typically at the high school level, that help students acquire valuable skills and knowledge related to specific careers and job sectors.
Through these programs, students can access exciting pathways, explore their passions, and gain the knowledge and training needed for a seamless transition into college and the world of work through classroom learning and authentic working experiences.
Students enroll in specialized classes and get the opportunity to secure internships, connect with mentors, and apply their knowledge through practical, hands-on projects. CTE opportunities are available to students at middle school, high school, and postsecondary institutions in all states across the United States. However, CTE delivery, design, governance, and funding do vary from state to state.
Typically, CTE programs are structured around specific groupings known as Career Clusters and CTE pathways. Clusters are broad categories of employment sectors, while pathways are more specific employment areas within each cluster. While there are 16 recognized national Career Clusters, the number and nature of clusters and pathways can vary from state to state.
What is Career Exploration?
Career exploration is a structured process that enables students to investigate and understand various career options, industries, and the skills and qualifications needed for different jobs. It aims to equip students with the knowledge necessary to make better choices about their future career paths.
Unlike CTE, which provides students with specific skills and training for career paths, career exploration focuses on helping students gain exposure to various careers. This helps them understand what it’s like to work in different professions and how their school learning translates to real-world jobs. While CTE prepares students for immediate entry into the workforce or college, career exploration starts earlier at the elementary and middle-school levels and helps students make informed decisions about which career paths to pursue.
5 Benefits of Career & Technical Education
As new roles emerge and industries continue to evolve, the need for specialized employability skills will only intensify. Today’s learners need practical ways to prepare for the future workplace, and this is what CTE is designed to do: provide students with a launchpad for career readiness and offer them the skills that modern employers demand. Let’s look at some of the broader benefits of CTE.
Preparing for the world of work
While schools help students master the fundamentals of core subjects like Math, English and Science, many learners struggle when they try to apply what they’ve learned beyond the classroom. CTE programs help students explore potential careers, understand their own aptitudes, and engage in practical experiences, which boost workforce development and bridge the gap between study and application.
Developing the right skills
CTE curricula shift the learning focus from theory to practical application. Students don’t just learn concepts; they learn how to get things done in the field. Whether it’s discovering how to build a wall for careers in construction or learning how to code, the hands-on approach to CTE gives students the hard skills they need to progress. Plus, CTE programs allow students to develop future-ready skills like teamwork and problem-solving which are essential for success in college and the workforce.
Getting certified and preparing for college
For students looking to fast track their careers, CTE programs offer the advantage of acquiring industry-recognized certifications alongside their high school education. Whether they’re looking to start careers in marketing or healthcare, these credentials validate student skillsets, offer a competitive edge in the job market, or prepare learners for college. And for those looking to advance to college, certain CTE pathways can help students earn college credits and enter two- or four-year college programs.
Increased graduation rates
With an impressive 94%2 of concentrated 9th-grade CTE students graduating on time and half of 10th-grade CTE concentrators advancing to secure higher education degrees within eight years,3 the results speak for themselves: CTE boosts graduation rates and offers a seamless path to further education.
2 & 3 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (2019). Bridging the Skills Gap: Career and Technical Education in High School. [online] Available at: https://www2.ed.gov/datastory/cte/index.html#data-story-title
Boosting the economy
CTE not only provides students with the tools to build successful futures, but it also has significant economic benefits. The impact of achieving a 90% graduation rate nationwide (calculated for the class of 2015) has the potential to lead to a $5.7 billion increase in economic growth.4 And when you consider that over 94% of concentrated 9th-grade CTE students went on to graduate, the link between CTE, individual success and economic competitiveness is clear.
4 Advance CTE. (2018). Understanding the Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). [Online] Available at: https://careertech.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/UnderstandingPerkinsV_UpdatedAugust2018.pdf
Introducing CTE Through Career Exploration – Starting CTE Early
Schools often face challenges in getting students to engage with and complete CTE programs once they reach high school. This is largely because students can lack exposure to relevant career paths in earlier grades, which makes it difficult for them to confidently choose a CTE pathway. It’s not uncommon for high school students to start on a particular pathway, decide they don't like it, and either switch to another or drop it entirely. This means they often start over later in high school, which leaves them with insufficient time to complete their studies. So how can we ensure students stick it out and complete their CTE pathways?
The solution lies in introducing career exploration at the middle-school level. Hughes and Karp suggest that career guidance activities directed at junior high school students had the largest effect on career decision-making and understanding of careers.5 And it’s easy to see why. Early exposure to careers allows students to dream about their future and discover pathways they might not have considered before, whether that’s as a dance technologist, race car driver, ecologist, or something entirely different. By the time they reach high school, students will have clearer areas of interest, which allows choosing and completing a CTE track more likely.
Students completing CTE pathways is crucial for schools. Public funding for CTE programs often depends on the success and completion rates of these programs.6 Early career exploration not only benefits students by helping them find their passion but also supports schools in maintaining and growing their CTE programs. More students completing CTE tracks means continued and potentially increased funding, as schools can demonstrate they are running programs consistent with Perkins V requirements.
5 Hughes, K. and Karp, M. (2004). School-Based Career Development: A Synthesis of the Literature. [online] Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED498580.pdf. [Accessed 16 May 2024]
6 CARL D. PERKINS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ACT OF 2006 . Available at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-3096/pdf/COMPS-3096.pdf [Accessed 16 May 2024].
Common CTE roadblocks schools need to overcome
Creating and maintaining robust CTE programs can be a daunting task for district administrators – poor funding, low awareness, and unstructured curricula at the earlier grades all stand in the way. Let’s look at some of these roadblocks in more detail and explore how we might overcome them.
Lack of CTE curriculum for earlier grades
One of the stumbling blocks in nurturing early interest in CTE is the lack of tailored curriculum and resources for younger students. Traditionally, CTE has been concentrated at the high school level, leaving elementary and middle school educators with fewer ways to explore CTE. This gap can place an additional burden on teachers, who may feel that introducing career exploration requires extra work. But this doesn't have to be the case. Career exploration and early CTE can be easily built into the existing curriculum. Here’s how:
It can be as simple as linking the skills being learned in a lesson to specific careers or incorporating pre-built curricula, such as the LEGO® Education Rebuild the World career toolkit into lessons. This approach not only alleviates the burden on teachers by providing ready-to-use resources but also enhances the learning experience by making connections between lesson content and real-world applications. What’s more, LEGO Education solutions can help students get hands-on with career exploration by providing ways to investigate STEAM concepts and a range of careers through tactile experiences and standards aligned learning units.
Funding & budget constraints
While state and local sources provide substantial support for high school CTE programs, they often fall short, making federal funding through The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) crucial. Perkins V is a law committed to enhancing students' access to quality CTE programs and delivers $1.44 billion7 in funding (FY 2023) to all 50 states and territories.
What’s more, when you consider there is no public CTE funding at the elementary level and limited funding at the middle school level, schools have a hard time affording resources, training teachers, and developing appropriate curricula. These shortfalls pose a significant roadblock to implementing and expanding quality CTE programs, but grassroots community investment outreach and partnerships with local industries could help generate funding and create valuable exposure opportunities for potential careers.
Learn more about how LEGO Education can help you find funding for CTE programs.
7 Association for Career and Technical Education. (2023). Press FAQs on Career and Technical Education. [Online] Available at: https://www.acteonline.org/press-faqs-on-career-and-technical-education/
Low CTE awareness
A survey in Missouri revealed some confusion among students about CTE, with 21.6%8 unsure if CTE courses prioritize both academic and technical skills, and 32.5%9 unaware that colleges recognize CTE credits. This highlights that many students don’t recognize how important CTE can be for both career and college readiness. To address this, school districts can consider being more purposeful about connecting CTE pathways to the elementary and middle-school curricula. This allows them to showcase the full spectrum of CTE benefits at the earlier grades so students can make informed decisions and understand the diverse career opportunities available to them.
8 & 9 Russell, R. and White, M. (n.d.). Perceptions of Career and Technical Education in Missouri Findings from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s CTE Survey [online] Available at: https://truman.missouri.edu/sites/default/files/publication/white-paper-perceptions-of-career-and-technical-education-in-missouri-w.pdf
Career exploration activities for elementary and middle school
We can spark students' curiosity early with engaging career exploration activities in elementary and middle school. Here's a collection of fun, hands-on LEGO Education activities designed to bring career exposure to younger students. Download our free lesson plan guide for further instructions on the following activities and learn more about our career Toolkit!
Create a solution for cleaning up our ocean
Students can dive into the world of ocean conservation and discover the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources CTE pathway by exploring the wonders and challenges facing marine ecosystems. Teachers could encourage students to team up and design their own innovative solutions to protect nearby waterways from pollution, such as creating devices for debris collection or beach clean-up.
See the full activity plan here
Design a strawberry picking machine
Grow your students’ curiosity and give them a taste of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources CTE pathway with this activity. First, ask students to research how technology has revolutionized crop harvesting and learn why some foods, like strawberries, are too delicate to be picked by machines. Next, ask your class to design a new strawberry picking machine that can gently pick only ripe fruit and navigate obstacles in the field.
See the full activity plan here
Develop a next-level race car
Strap in, speed into the future, and explore the Transportation CTE pathway with your class using this automotive engineering activity. First engage your students with a lively discussion on race car performance, speed, and aerodynamics. Then ask your class to pair up and design a next-level race car. Make sure they consider speed, safety, handling, tire friction and air resistance in their design.
See the full activity plan here
Design a food video production tool
Serve your students a tasty introduction to food video production and the Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications CTE pathway by familiarizing them with the basics of food video production, like lighting, camera angles, and steady shots. Next, ask them to design a tripod that can help capture great footage. It should be able to start and stop recording without being touched and hold the recording device at different heights and angles. Encourage your students to brainstorm potential features, sketch their designs, and create prototypes with cardboard, sticks, or LEGO® bricks.
See the full activity plan here
Facilitating Early Career Exploration with LEGO® Education
LEGO Education solutions provide relevant and real-word application for CTE career pathways such as business, technology, engineering, marketing, and many more. Through the use of LEGO Education solutions, students will have authentic opportunities to participate in real simulations while increasing content knowledge and developing soft skills to continuously refine their employability to be career and workforce ready in the 21st century. Learn more about the specific career clusters LEGO Education solutions align with in our CTE Cluster Alignment Guide.