ECS officials believe that publishing the CTE data should have as considerable an impact as the STEM information has among higher education policymakers even though technical careers traditionally have not been seen as academically rigorous. It’s argued nowadays that success for high school graduates, regardless of the postsecondary technical training path they seek, means that available jobs will require considerable knowledge in math and science — including skills that are on par with what are required for traditional four-year degrees. The new ECS databases should enable policymakers to ensure broad access and maintain high-quality instruction and curriculum for STEM and CTE programs, according to ECS officials.
“STEM and CTE programs at the high school level are growing and evolving in response to public and policymaker demand. These ECS databases provide policymakers with just the tools they need to make sure students, regardless of the communities in which they live, have access to these exciting programs and that the instruction and curriculum are at a level to adequately prepare students for life after high school or college,” says Roger Sampson, ECS president.
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