HARRISBURG – Septiembre 25, 2019 – State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) announced that language from his bill to change “vocational-technical schools” to “career and technical schools” was amended into House Bill 265.
The language from Senate Bill 89, sponsored by Sen. Hughes and Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster), was recently amended into House Bill 265, paving the way to establish the term “career and technical schools” in Pennsylvania in the near future. Sen. Hughes thanked Sen. Aument for helping address the much-needed change to the outdated education term.
“We are one step closer to taking a major step to move Pennsylvania’s education system forward,” Sen. Hughes said. “This change will be instrumental in help preparing our children for the jobs of the future by removing the stigma around education in skilled trades, applied sciences and technology fields. I am hopeful this change improves enrollment at our wonderful career and technical schools, and helps students see another pathway to opportunity after high school.”
The stigma around the term “vocational-technical schools” prompted Senator Hughes to push for a more modern, 21st-century term to describe the robust opportunities offered in Pennsylvania’s education system. Changing to the term “career and technical schools” is expected to prepare students for occupations that require a strong knowledge base, technical skills, and critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Almost two-thirds of all jobs in the U.S. will require postsecondary education or training, including many careers that sustain middle-class individuals and families. The change to “career and technical schools” is expected to boost the profile of Pennsylvania’s 84 Career and Technical Centers, which create pathways to opportunities through comprehensive academic and technical education courses.