Delivering on our Proud Priorities: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Hubs
Dear Prince Georgians:
Yesterday, we hosted a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Forum at Charles H. Flowers High School showcasing student entrepreneurship in Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). During the forum, students from CTE programs across the County delivered business ideas and elevator pitches and had the opportunity to participate in a conversation with myself and Angie Rodgers, who serves as our Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development.
CTE programs help our students prepare for in-demand, high-skilled jobs that pay good wages. Through these programs, our students pursue careers in entrepreneurship, environmental science, arts, media and communications, hospitality and tourism, public safety, information technology, construction, manufacturing and engineering, and transportation technology. PGCPS currently has 152 programs spanning across 24 high schools, with over 200 partner organizations. CTE programs also offer 43 industry credentials/licenses for students that participate.
From the very beginning, in 2019, County Government leaders, agency personnel, and community leaders came together to develop our Proud Priorities and Promises Portfolio. These priorities represent our commitment to building and maintaining a 21st century County Government infrastructure that improves the quality of life for Prince Georgians. We have been working hard since then. I am proud to say that of the 176 Proud Priorities and Promises we made to our residents, 164 of them are either completed or underway.
One of those Proud Priorities is “Career and Technical Education (CTE) Hubs.” We have been committed to preparing students for in-demand, high-skilled, and high-wage jobs through expanded CTE programs. In addition, we have also been committed to providing high-quality educational services in safe learning environments that will not only ensure that our students are college and career ready, but are also well-rounded and globally-competitive citizens.
These programs are proven to help build a path for students that leads to good paying jobs and success in higher education, which is why the State of Maryland has set a goal in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to elevate CTE programs, provide guidance to students early on, and prepare students for a diverse, modern economy. Our Administration is working directly with PGCPS and the State to make substantial investments to expand CTE programs and since 2020, we have watched CTE applications increase exponentially, going from receiving 596 applications in school year 2020 to 4,243 applications in school year 2023.
Our CTE students should have every opportunity to learn and grow skills that will help in the real world, and we know that our plans for the Blue Line Corridor (BLC) and other transit-oriented development projects do just that by ensuring that Prince Georgians of all ages will be able to enjoy and be a part of the continued and future growth in Prince George’s. During the forum, we shared updates on our signature BLC project, highlighting opportunities for local entrepreneurship and business engagement as well as soliciting ideas and feedback from students on the project and current CTE programs within PGCPS, to ensure our students can be part of our growth.
We remain committed to continuing to take the necessary steps to create a brighter future for our community. We know that these students will one day have a chance to use the skills they have learned in our CTE programs to support the growth and development of our community. As we watch our framework for the Blue Line Corridor continue to take shape, we are excited to see what our bright students will accomplish here in Prince George’s County.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
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