Nevada cites CTE success as state kicks off Lifeworks Initiative

CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Department of Education released Career and Technical Education data that demonstrates CTE students in the state are gaining both technical and employability skills required for their chosen CTE Program of Study and high school diploma requirements.

From 2016-2017 to 2017-2018, Nevada students have continued to demonstrate a steady increase in assessment pass rates, and students earning the CTE Certificate of Skill Attainment, CTE program completion rates, and CTE graduation rates as shown below:

• Students passing the End-of-Program technical assessment increased by 3.5 percent.
• Students passing the Workplace Readiness Skills assessment increased by 7 percent.
• Students earning the CTE Certificate of Skill Attainment increased by 5.5 percent
• CTE completers increased by 11 percent.
• CTE student graduation rates increased by 6 percent, and were 10 percent higher than non-CTE students.

Students who were identified as being in a completer level course and those who took the assessment are steadily increasing as the state has more students enrolling and completing CTE programs of study.

The State of Nevada has launched a workforce initiative known as Lifeworks with the goal of increasing relevant and effective career pathways for students to provide more skilled workers for the New Nevada economy.

As part of the initiative, nearly 64,000 students have access to at least one CTE program, which combines regular academic courses with career-focused courses, skill building and work-based learning opportunities to give students extra preparation for college and careers.

Nevada has 79 CTE programs of study available in comprehensive high schools, signature academies and career and technical academies.

“As the numbers indicate, we have a strong foundation of CTE program offerings,” said Steve Canavero, Ph.D., Superintendent of Public Instruction. “And now that we’ve kicked off Lifeworks, students in our state will have more college and career choices with real opportunities after they obtain a diploma or industry-recognized credential.”

In 2017-2018, 4,923 Nevada students passed both assessments and maintained a 3.00 GPA in their CTE courses, which enabled them to receive the Nevada CTE Certificate of Skill Attainment. Moreover, this allows these students to obtain CTE college articulated credit at the community college level.

By 2020, 64 percent of jobs in Nevada will require some form of postsecondary degree, training or certification beyond high school, yet only half will need a four-year college degree. Many of these career opportunities — spanning the fields of technology, advanced manufacturing, education and health care — will call for specialized training not exclusive to four-year degree programs.

To bolster students prepared for these industries, the 2017 Legislature passed Assembly Bill 7 that created the new College and Career Ready (CCR) diploma for high school students that includes the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate and expands dual-credit programs and work-based learning opportunities.

“Through the Lifeworks initiative, students will receive guidance on required coursework and support to help them obtain workplace readiness skills,” Canavero said. “These experiences will ensure that they are qualified for and prepared to succeed by completing the new CCR diploma or a CTE Technical Skills Certificate without the need for remediation. Ultimately, more of our students will be prepared for Nevada’s in-demand occupations that will help meet the needs of the state’s emerging high-tech economy.”