SPRINGFIELD - The achievements and accomplishments of Career and Technical Education programs across the state will be recognized this February under a measure supported by State Senator Paul Faraci that passed the Senate Thursday.

“By passing this resolution, we hope to bring additional awareness to the benefits of CTE programs and the high-wage careers that trades offer,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “Having a skilled workforce is one of the things companies look at when considering new development in an area.”

Senate Resolution 85 declares February as Career and Technical Education Month in Illinois. Under the resolution, high school educators and counselors will be encouraged to assist each student to determine an appropriate post-secondary plan based upon their skills, strengths and goals and help them implement the best practices that improve career readiness after high school so that they can find an appropriate pathway.

CTE offers education and advanced training to support high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations, including careers in trades, health care, information technology, agriculture, finance and education. About 12 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE across the nation. Advance CTE reports that the high school graduation rate for students who concentrate on CTE is about 90% – 15 percentage points higher than the national average.

“We need to give people opportunity to make a good living, and CTE programs provide bright futures with pathways to good-paying jobs in major industries,” said Faraci. 

Senate Resolution 85 was adopted by the Senate Thursday.