SR0750 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0750 LRB103 39218 LAW 69368 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, February is nationally recognized as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month; and

WHEREAS, CTE's origins stem from the signing of the Smith-Hughes Vocation Education Act of 1917, which was the first major federal investment in CTE and laid the foundation for bipartisan, bicameral support for CTE that continues today through the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for 21st Act, and February 23, 2024 marks the 107th anniversary of the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act being signed into law; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 382,383 secondary and postsecondary students are enrolled in CTE across the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, CTE in Illinois places equity at the forefront of decision-making, instructional programming, and student support services, and it is instrumental in ensuring fair and equal access to learning opportunities, supporting local communities, fostering innovation, and promoting continuous improvement; and

WHEREAS, CTE programs lead in supplying instruction for careers in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations in a number of fields, including agriculture, health care, business and finance, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and education; and

WHEREAS, CTE programs provide relevant academic and technical coursework, leading to college credits and industry-recognized credentials for secondary and postsecondary learners; these programs also offer smooth pathways to and through postsecondary education and employment, career exploration for grades K-12, and assistance in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards; and

WHEREAS, CTE prepares students for tomorrow's careers and drives economic growth by matching employability skills with workforce demand, embedding work-based learning opportunities, and allowing for local flexibility; and

WHEREAS, All students benefit from equity-centered teaching practices, career-connected learning, opportunities to develop and discover practical skills and strengths, and career exploration; and

WHEREAS, CTE programs will play a critical role in becoming the largest training provider for Electric Vehicle Technology, thereby bolstering, supporting, and delivering Governor JB Pritzker's goal for the State of Illinois to reach 100% clean energy by 2050; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the month of February 2024 as Career and Technical Education Month in the State of Illinois.