Michigan board of education seeks greater technical education funding

BY JON KING, MICHIGAN ADVANCE

MICHIGAN—The State Board of Education has called on state leaders to increase investment in career and technical education (CTE) programs in order to expand opportunities for students to prepare for high-wage and high-skills careers.

A resolution to that effect was passed by the board at its Tuesday meeting, calling on both the Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to provide additional funding to local and intermediate school districts, particularly in the 41% of Michigan school districts described as “CTE deserts” where participation in the programs is much lower than expected.

The resolution, which passed by a 7-1 vote, states that “CTE offers students opportunities to earn college credit, industry certification, and licenses in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand fields,” ranging from agriculture to skilled trades, to public safety, to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Students who complete CTE programs gain valuable, practical skills and the opportunity to start exciting careers after high school and to build a strong foundation for success in post-secondary education,” said Board President Pamela Pugh, a Democrat. “All Michigan students deserve access to these opportunities, regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, or where they live.”

The lone no vote came from Tom McMillin, one of only two Republicans on the board. The former House member said while the value of CTE programs wasn’t in doubt, he objected to state government being the source for that funding.

“We always just look at government. You know, maybe the answer to more choice would be non-government choices, innovative options, some kind of voucher. It doesn’t necessarily have to be government schools and government funding,” he said.

According to the resolution, CTE programs contribute to meeting several goals in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, including expanding secondary learning opportunities for all students, increasing the percentage of all students who graduate from high school as well as the percentage of adults with a post-secondary credential.

“In addition to preparing students for rewarding careers, CTE courses can also keep some children engaged at school so they are able to graduate and improve their life outcomes,” said State Superintendent Michael Rice. “Students enrolled in CTE programs have significantly higher high school graduation rates and higher earnings in the labor market. They acquire skills that prepare them for successful career entry, advancement, and/or continuing education — including college — for high-wage, high-demand careers.”

While enrollment in CTE programs has rebounded from its pandemic decline, the resolution states that recent studies done by the University of Michigan’s Youth Policy Lab, which were presented at the October and December board meetings, detailed “significant disparities in CTE access across socioeconomic status, race, and geography.”

Additionally, in nearly half of the 53 different CTE programs offered by the state, economically disadvantaged students are underrepresented by more than 10 percentage points, including in computer programming, engineering technology, and financial management services.

With that as a backdrop, a press release from the board says that over the next five years, an additional investment is needed to expand opportunities for students who have not been able to access state-approved career-tech programming because of “funding, geography, transportation, and cultural barriers.”

READ MORE: Want a new job? Whitmer’s administration is hooking Michiganders up with apprenticeships.

This coverage was republished from Michigan Advance pursuant to a Creative Commons license.