CAMBRIDGE CUSD 227

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in Illinois provide instruction that enables students to work in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations. CTE programs continue to strengthen students’ technical skills; articulate transitions to postsecondary programs, employment, or both; assist in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards; and close achievement gaps. CTE programs provide students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in college and careers. All students benefit from career-connected learning that emphasizes real-world skills within a selected career focus. Students gain practical knowledge while discovering and preparing for success in potential careers. The programs provided for students are aligned to 16 career clusters .

Illinois has over 285,000 students participating in CTE. There are over 111 programs, which include Career and Technical Student Organizations, work-based learning opportunities, and dual credit, available for students. Visit the ISBE CTE webpage to learn more about the opportunities that students can be engaged in.

The Strengthen Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) was signed into law on July 31, 2018. Illinois formulated and submitted its Perkins State Plan for CTE , which was approved on May 22, 2020. The Illinois State Board of Education is accountable for nine performance indicators. The targets that Illinois is to meet are listed in the table below. A consolidated annual report is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education annually with the actual performance levels for that year.

This data is disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and special populations. A CTE concentrator is a student who has passed two or more courses in a single program. Courses can be taken at any point during the student’s high school career.