By Naeisha Rose
The city’s Department of Education (DOE) surpassed its goal to introduce 40 new Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs between 2016 and 2018 with a multi-year $113 million investment across all five boroughs, 11 of which were implemented in 10 schools in Queens.
The 47 new programs up the tally of CTE classes to 301 and the technical classes now reach approximately 64,000 students in 135 schools citywide, according to the Nov. 29 announcement from the DOE.
CTE academic courses are rigorous and are meant to align with certain fields so that students can seamlessly transition into two-year or four-year technical college programs or careers, according to the DOE.
“Career and technical education has a long and successful career in New York City. Expanding into new areas and providing support for existing programs is critically important,” said state Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, who chairs of the Assembly’s Education Committee. “In my tenure as chair of the NYS Assembly Education Committee, I have held hearings on CTE education, sponsored legislative and budget initiatives directed at CTE and done everything I can to support these efforts.”
The programs include the following:
· Queens Technical High School in Long Island City has a Cisco Networking Academy
· The Young Women’s Leadership School in Astoria has a Software Engineering/Web Design program
· The High School for Arts and Business in Corona has a Web & Digital Media Communications program
· Thomas Edison Career and Technical Education High School has a Automotive Diesel Technology program
· August Martin High School in South Jamaica has a Culinary Arts program
· Hillcrest High School has its Software Engineering course
· Long Island City High School has a Certified Personal Trainer course
· Richmond Hill High School has Computer Science (Web Design and Digital Communication) and Hospitality and Tourism courses
· Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability has a Carpentry/Construction course
· Rockaway Collegiate High School in Rockaway Park has a Web Design and Digital Communications course
“The expansion of the CTE program will provide our students with meaningful educational experiences giving them alternative paths to success by preparing them for college or the workforce,” said City Councilwoman Adrienne Adams. “This program expansion … will certainly strengthen the college readiness of our students and build access to careers that will widen their opportunities.”
The programs focus on 16 growing markets in New York City’s economy like hospitality and tourism; architecture and construction; arts, AV technology and communication; information technology, law and public safety; scientific research and engineering; health science; transportation, distribution and logistics; and manufacturing production, according to the DOE.
“Career and Technical Education Programs provide an opportunity for our students to have successful futures,” said state Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato. “Investing in our students throughout the state has always been a top priority, however, I am thrilled that two schools within my district here in Rockaway will be receiving these resources.”
The investment doesn’t only support the creation of more CTE courses, but provides industry partnerships, class materials, teacher training and support, and funds for 3,000 internships annually for students, according to the DOE.
“We set out to create more programs to train our students and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow, and I am proud to report that we’ve exceeded our goal to bring more real-world experiences directly into our classrooms,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
