At the core of CTE lies the passion for preparing youth for the future. This future includes employment, continuing education, high paying jobs, and so much more. However, there are still many misconceptions that exist concerning the rigor, value, and relevance of CTE courses.

Rigor and Expectations

Myth: CTE is for low-performing students or students who don’t go on to college or postsecondary training.
Fact: CTE develops students’ potential for college and career readiness; statistically CTE students have higher graduation rates and higher postsecondary education enrollment compared to other students.

Value

Myth: CTE programs lead to careers with low wages.
Fact: Advanced CTE courses taken in high school are associated with higher wages in the workforce. On average, workers see a two percent wage increase for each upper-level CTE course taken.

Relevance

Myth: CTE programs aren’t relevant if a student doesn’t know what career they want.
Fact: CTE allows students to explore the professional world to develop their skills, enhance their potential, and identify future career options.

For supporting evidence and details, read the full post from iCEV, MythBusters: The Truth Behind 3 of the Most Common Myths About CTE (2021). A print version of this content is available here.

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