Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined his House colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing February as National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.

“Creativity in the classroom is happening in schools across Northwest Washington,” said Larsen. “Last week, I toured Emerson Elementary’s third grade technology classroom where students learn through hands-on engineering activities. Classes like this connect young people with the skills they need to compete in the global workforce. That is why I am pleased to join my colleagues in recognizing National CTE Month.”

The resolution recognizes the importance of CTE and encourages educators, counselors, career development professionals, and parents to promote CTE as an option for students.

During the 2015-16 school year, more than 313,300 high school students and over 165,500 two-year college students were enrolled in CTE programs in Washington state. Nationwide, there are currently 12 million students enrolled in CTE career academies, CTE centers, and two-year colleges.

Larsen has consistently been a proponent of CTE and STEM education. He introduced the Youth Access to American Jobs Act to help create a pathway for students in their junior year of high school through community college and into apprenticeship programs.

Last week, Larsen participated in several Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) and CTE related events across the Second District. Larsen attended the first ever Snohomish STEM Summit to hear from different sectors of the workforce, STEM leaders and legislators. Larsen talked with Stanwood High School students about apprenticeships and entering into the workforce after graduation. He also met members of Emerson Elementary School’s First Lego League Teams, a hands-on program to get students interested in STEM through engineering challenges, like building LEGO-based robots.

Text of the resolution can be found HERE.

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