TRENTON, N.J., May 20, 2014 _ More than 500 teachers, administrators, college faculty and government workers joined members of the state labor and education departments today at the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Institute at The College of New Jersey in Trenton.

The Institute, hosted by the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education, was designed to immerse participants in topics that are essential in connecting vocational and technical programs with workforce needs, and to prepare students to be college and career ready. Staff from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, along with leaders of the state’s seven industry-focused Talent Networks, conducted many of the seminars.

With 40 full-day and half-day training sessions, participants had the opportunity to learn about subject areas that are central to improving student outcomes, such as implementing project-based learning, utilizing data effectively, and integrating literacy.

“The CTE Institute provides educators with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of CTE programs, helping to ensure these programs effectively prepare our students for college and career,” said Acting Education Commissioner David Hespe. “By improving career and technical education, and by strengthening the teaching skills of educators across the spectrum, students will be given more valuable tools to succeed.”

At the CTE Institute, attendees shared knowledge about New Jersey’s key industry clusters in order to best prepare students for 21^st century careers.

“It is vital that we give students the ability to not only pursue their careers, but to be effectively prepared to meet the needs of industry employers,” said Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Harold J. Wirths. “We are pleased that the institute allows us to provide the most important and current information on the best practices that educators can use to help shape a confident and capable workforce.”

The Institute offered multiple venues to learn about opportunities and the needs of employers in New Jersey’s key industry clusters, such as advanced manufacturing; finance; health care; life science; retail, hospitality and tourism; technology and entrepreneurship; and transportation, distribution and logistics. In addition, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development unveiled the first of several career guidance brochures for New Jersey’s industries at the CTE Institute. Each brochure contains current data and labor market information, trends in skills and credentials, and an overview of career options.

The CTE Institute highlighted CTE programs of excellence that have been successful through collaboration with partners in secondary and postsecondary education; business, industry and labor; and workforce development to prepare students to meet the demands of the global economy. 

Career and technical education programs are offered throughout New Jersey’s 21 county vocational high schools and in more than 100 traditional high schools, allowing for every county to feature partnerships with business, industry, colleges and universities. More than 90,000 secondary students participate in CTE programs, with approximately 30,000 of them attending the 21 vocational schools.

Educators who want to know more about the event can obtain information at:

www.nj.gov/education/cte/conf/14/.

Members of press who want more information should contact the NJDOE’s Public Information Office at (609) 292-1126.

For more information about New Jersey Talent Networks visit: http://careerconnections.nj.gov/careerconnections/partners/talent/talent_networks.shtml