CTE Works! Results from a National Survey

Joan Perry Director, Strategic AlliancesNational Research Center for College and University Admissions™

NRCCUA/ACTE Collaboration• The National Research Center for College and

University Admissions™ has been surveying student and teacher attitudes and interests for 40 years through the My College Options college planning program• ACTE and NRCCUA collaborate to design survey • ACTE provides several questions• The remainder of the form establishes the student’s

college planning profile at My College Options

2013 Survey Administration• In fall 2013, the ACTE survey was mailed to CTE

educators across the nation• Educators were asked to distribute the survey to

their students, as well as complete an educator questionnaire• Demographics:• 51,501 student respondents• 903 educator respondents

Key Student Findings• Two-thirds of CTE students report they are learning

skills that will help them to get a job in the future• 60% plan to pursue a career related to the field

they are studying – an increase from years past!• 85% plan to pursue post-secondary education• One-third of students have the chance to earn

college credit, a certification or a degree through CTE

NRCCUA. (2014). ACTE Annual Research Report: CTE Works!

Students Gain Employability Skills• CTE coursework provides students with:• The opportunity to be creative and innovative: 35%• The chance to work as part of a team: 31%• The opportunity to be a leader: 29%• The ability to look at and solve complicated problems:

26.5%• The opportunity to interact with employers and

community leaders: 18.4%

Students Gain Academic Skills• 45% of students say CTE courses provide them with real-

world examples that help them better understand academic classes• 20.5% say that their CTE courses provide them with higher

levels of math and/or science skills• This is even higher for students interested in a career in

mathematics and for students with an “A” average

• 11.5% say that their CTE courses provide them with higher levels of reading/writing skills

• 95% of CTE educators say that they integrate academics and CTE in the classroom• ACTE members lead in

business/industry engagement

NRCCUA. (2014). ACTE Annual Research Report: CTE Works!

EducatorFindings

Funding• Perkins is the major source of federal funding for CTE• 59% say funding has been reduced in recent years• Educators would use an increase in funding for:

• New equipment: 80%• New curriculum materials: 49%• Enrichment opportunities (CTSOs, WBL, articulation

agreements, etc.): 44%• Professional development to increase technical skills: 30%• Creation of new programs: 16.5%• Increased career guidance/development activities: 14%

Uses of the NRCCUA-ACTE Survey and Report• Creates a FREE college planning account for each student• My College Options provides school level reporting back to

participating educators• Use data to advocate for funding and resources• Use data to show how CTE students are gaining technical,

academic and employability skills• Use data to show how CTE teachers are successfully

collaborating with business and industry

Learn more• The report is available at

www.acteonline.org/cte • Joan Perry, National

Research Center for College & University Admissions: joanp@nrccua.org • Catherine Imperatore, ACTE:

cimperatore@acteonline.org