MADISON — After proposing $60 million in investments to expand student programming through her biennial budget request, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly kicked off Career and Technical Education Month this week during visits with students and staff at Tremper High School in Kenosha and Oregon High School in Oregon.
Wisconsin is one of only six states that lack dedicated, ongoing funding for CTE programs in public schools. In November, Dr. Underly proposed the establishment of a categorical aid program aimed at expanding CTE opportunities statewide and providing vital funding to each of the state’s six Career and Technical Student Organizations. Earlier this week, Dr. Underly further emphasized the importance of innovative CTE programming in a guest editorial, highlighting the need for a more robust investment in workforce development across Wisconsin.
“While some schools have been able to invest in CTE innovation and programming, others lack resources or support to provide students with hands-on experiences,” Dr. Underly wrote. “The gap in access to CTE programming is a significant issue, one that prevents many students from exploring potential career paths and building the technical skills needed to thrive in today’s workforce.”
On Monday, Dr. Underly joined Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss and other leaders for a tour of the school’s CTE programming. During the tour, Dr. Underly explored a variety of hands-on learning opportunities, including the early childhood education program, as well as classes in culinary arts, civil engineering and architecture, construction, and automotive technology. The visit concluded with a stop at HomeCourt, the school store operated by marketing teachers and students.
On Tuesday, Dr. Underly began her day with a visit to a student-led construction site, where Oregon High School students were working to build a house from the ground up. She then joined Oregon School District Superintendent Leslie Bergstrom and other school and district staff at the high school, where they engaged in a discussion with youth apprentices and toured classes in technology, agricultural natural resources, and early childhood education. Photos from each of the visits from this week can be found on Dr. Underly’s official Facebook page.
