[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/2″]During February, we recognize Career and Technical Education Month. Investing in education, especially CTE, remains a primary focus of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation’s outreach in Pennsylvania. Over the course of the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years, Cabot will invest approximately $220,000 in CTE education. Allocation of these funds to seven different CTE centers across eight different counties (72 different zip codes) in Pennsylvania -Susquehanna, Wyoming, Wayne, Luzerne, Columbia, Montour, Schuylkill, and North Hampton – will impact close to 500 students during the 2015-16 year.
[/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”8506″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”https://wellsaidcabot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CTE-Month.jpg” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We’ll be running content for the rest of the month from the CTEs Cabot has invested in to celebrate CTE Month.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”8507″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”https://wellsaidcabot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/What_Is_CTE_infographic.jpg” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]James F. Monaghan is the Administrative Director at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center. He says the funding has been an incredible help:

Two examples of obstacles we faced in the past are students from the Cosmetology Program struggled to pay for the Cosmetology Kit. The funding has removed that stress of making “payments”. Our Culinary Arts Program is also putting the funds to good use. As a member of “Prostart”, a partner with the State and National Restaurant Associations, our students are required to be dressed professionally and alike to compete. Cabot monies allow students to purchase these uniforms.

James remarked further on the impact this funding is having on his center:

As a result of involvement in the Cabot’s funding, 18% of the students enrolled for the 2015-2016 school year at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center are benefiting from Cabot generosity. The financial assistance is providing the resources for the students career preparation to become employable, contributing members of society. The Northumberland County Career and Technology Center is committed to our youth and will remain diligent to provide students with the best possible career and technical education training. We’re focused on meeting the needs of the businesses and industries from Northumberland and surrounding counties. We value our partnership and involvement with Cabot in this scholarship program.

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Just How Impactful is CTE?

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According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, high school students involved in CTE are more engaged, perform better and graduate at higher rates.

• 81 percent of dropouts say relevant, real-world learning opportunities would have kept them in high school.
• The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 93 percent, compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 80 percent.
• More than 75 percent of secondary CTE concentrators pursued postsecondary education shortly after high school.

More Key CTE statistics from the Association of Career and Technical Education:

• CTE serves 94 percent of all high school students, including male and female students, students from many races and ethnicities, and students from upper and lower income backgrounds. However, at the start of the 21st century, male students; students from smaller, lower income or rural schools; students who have disabilities; and students who enter high school with lower academic achievement were more likely to participate in secondary CTE at higher levels.
• In the 2011-2012 school year, according to the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, 7,312,827 secondary CTE participants or students took, at least, one credit of CTE, and 2,896,535 CTE concentrators who took multiple CTE credits in one career pathway.
• In 2009, the average number of credits earned in CTE by high school graduates was 3.6 credits. Over time, the percentage of students taking a few credits of CTE and students spreading their CTE credits across multiple career fields has increased, while the percentage taking a higher concentration of credits in one field has declined. This is due in large part to increased academic course taking on the part of all students, pointing to a convergence in academics and CTE.
• In 2002, 88 percent of public high schools offered, at least, one CTE program. Also, many high schools are served by area career centers–1,200 in 41 states, as of 2002.

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