Resolution 180142

..Title Honoring and Recognizing February 2018 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in the City of Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, The School District of Philadelphia offers CTE Programs in over 40 occupational areas, allowing students to acquire both technical (hands-on) and academic skills. More than 6,000 Philadelphia School District students attend a Career and Technical Education program in 31 high schools across the City; and WHEREAS, 81% of dropouts say relevant, real-world learning opportunities would have kept them in high school. The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE is 90.18%, compared to a national average of 74.9%; and WHEREAS, CTE students in the School District of Philadelphia earn over 3,400 industry credentials annually; and WHEREAS, These students earn valuable college credit and industry recognized credentials in these programs. These credentials can lead to real job opportunities in the skilled trades; and WHEREAS, There will be more than 6,700 jobs opening in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector over the next five years in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Councilwoman Blackwell, along with Penn Medicine, L.F. Driscoll and the Philadelphia Building Trades Council, with support from Philadelphia Works and the General Building Contractors Association, started the PennAssist Program which made a historic commitment to train and help Philadelphia School District CTE Graduates to enter the trade unions as apprentices; and WHEREAS, While there have been challenges along the way, many of the kids who entered the PennAssist Program are currently working in real jobs, in the skilled trades, earning a livable wage; and WHEREAS, The School District of Philadelphia has planned several events throughout the month of February to raise awareness around the opportunities within the Career and Technical Education Programs they run; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, Does hereby recognize February 2018 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in the City of Philadelphia. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution will be presented as a sincere expression of the City Council's of Philadelphia's gratitude to honor this important month. ..End