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State Board proclaims February 2025 Career and Technical Education Month; students and CTE leaders praised programs
Summary
The New Jersey State Board of Education adopted a resolution recognizing February 2025 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, heard students and CTE leaders describe hands‑on programs, and highlighted grants and partnerships supporting career pathways.
The New Jersey State Board of Education on Feb. 2025 adopted a resolution recognizing February 2025 as Career and Technical Education Month, applauding county vocational‑technical districts and career and technical student organizations for preparing students for college and careers.
The resolution, read by a board member, cites the Association for Career and Technical Education’s national designation and references more than 143,000 secondary and postsecondary students participating in CTE in New Jersey. Dr. James Peterson, president of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational‑Technical Schools, accepted the resolution on behalf of the state’s 21 county vocational‑technical districts and thanked the board for its support: "It is an honor to accept the resolution on behalf of New Jersey's 21 county vocational technical school districts and the larger CTE community." (Dr. James Peterson)
Students representing TSA, HOSA, DECA, FCCLA and SkillsUSA described leadership and technical experiences that they said helped them develop workplace and STEM skills. One student speaker described CTE as "hands‑on learning opportunities that have prepared me for a future in the healthcare field," and another said CTSOs had enabled her "to use my voice to empower those around me." These presentations were followed by board members and the commissioner praising school visits to CTE facilities and encouraging districts to expand access.
Department staff described statewide supports for CTE, including capacity‑building grants, work‑based learning coordinator training, an "AI and CTE" grant to develop curriculum in partnership with higher education and industry, and other programs intended to increase advanced coursework and credential attainment.
The board approved the resolution by voice vote after a motion and second; a roll‑call tally was not specified in the meeting record. The adoption formalizes the department’s public awareness campaign for CTE month, and department staff said it will post recognition materials and a DOE broadcast for local education agencies to share.
The board took no further formal legislative action on CTE items today; department officials said grant programs and awards will be rolled out through DOE communications and future reports to the board.
