Advance CTE, with support from the Siemens Foundation, has spent the last year working to support states across the country to attract and recruit students into high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) programs of study. Last year, Advance CTE worked with four states – Maryland, New Jersey, Indiana and Washington – to pilot innovative online and on site recruitment and communications strategies using nationally tested messages that resonate with parents and students. As a result of this work, we are excited to share new resources that all states can use in their communications and recruitment efforts.
Tools now available include:
- CTE Social Media Guide: Based on a guide developed by the Maryland State Department of Education, Advance CTE has developed a social media guide explaining how to effectively use social media, integrate the messages into your posts and highlights effective campaigns.
- Focus Group Discussion Guide: Use this focus group guide to learn firsthand what parents and students think about CTE. This simple, easy-to-follow resource provides you with questions for the moderator, ice breaker activities, and a pre-event homework assignment for attendees. By assessing your community you can determine the best ways to communicate about CTE.
- CTE Posters and Postcards: These materials, created by the New Jersey Department of Education, explain the benefits for students participating in CTE programs, while integrating the messages we know resonate with parents and students.
- Using Video to Promote CTE in Your State: The Washington Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board developed a series of videos highlighting CTE across the state and a video toolkit to help local schools, instructors and students develop their own videos promoting CTE in their communities. The guide provides technical tips for setting up shots, capturing sound, and conducting interviews.
View all of these tools here.