February 7, 2025
Thank you, Chairman Collin Daly and the entire commission for declaring February as Career and Technical Education Month in Limestone County. Chairman Daly realizes firsthand the importance and relevance of our workforce and technical training programs in Limestone County and Athens City schools. The commission is responsible for managing the finances, property, and services for Limestone County which are all instrumental in workforce and economic development. In addition to attracting business and industry to our area and creating high-wage jobs for our citizens, the commission serves as our partner in education providing educational opportunities for students to learn about career pathways that serve our area business and industries. Under their leadership, Limestone County has become one of the fastest growing and most attractive places to live in our great state.
Historically, the purpose of Career and Technical Education (CTE) has been to prepare students for entry-level jobs in occupations requiring less than a baccalaureate degree. Over the last decade, educational reform has reshaped the purpose of CTE into a broader preparation that develops the academic, vocational, and technical skills of a broader base of students. This preparation now includes the integration of academics and CTE emphasizing all aspects of industry. Today's CTE programs incorporate increasingly rigorous academic content standards and provide a blended mix of high school and post-secondary institution coursework through Calhoun Community College leading to an industry-recognized credential, certificate, high school diploma, and short-certificate [halfway to an associate degree]. CTE emphasizes contextual learning, employability skills development, and career exploration. CTE also represents training and added degree opportunities for the unemployed and others seeking to broaden their skill sets, thus improving their employability and contributing to the high-skill high-wage occupations in North Alabama. CTE not only fuels our region's workforce but plays a vital role in helping the nation meet the challenges of economic development. CTE is delivered through a variety of programs, each with a specific curriculum that includes many courses in a preferred sequence. Our high school CTE programs still prepare our students for jobs; they have broadened their role in raising the probability of students completing high school and by increasing the number of students who transition to postsecondary programs and complete them.
President Trump signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), a bipartisan measure reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 and continued Congress' commitment in providing nearly $1.4 billion annually for CTE programs for our nation's youth and adults. Perkins V represents an important opportunity to expand opportunities for every student to explore, choose, and follow career and technical education programs of study and career pathways to earn credentials of value. Limestone County Schools remains committed to providing and expanding opportunities in first-class workforce and technical training for our students. Happy Career and Technical Education Month!