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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, February is nationally recognized as Career and 
3Technical Education (CTE) Month; and
 
4    WHEREAS, CTE's origins stem from the signing of the 
5Smith-Hughes Vocation Education Act of 1917, which was the 
6first major federal investment in CTE and laid the foundation 
7for bipartisan, bicameral support for CTE that continues today 
8through the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for 
921st Act, and February 23, 2024 marks the 107th anniversary of 
10the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act being signed into 
11law; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Approximately 382,383 secondary and postsecondary 
13students are enrolled in CTE across the State of Illinois; and
 
14    WHEREAS, CTE in Illinois places equity at the forefront of 
15decision-making, instructional programming, and student 
16support services, and it is instrumental in ensuring fair and 
17equal access to learning opportunities, supporting local 
18communities, fostering innovation, and promoting continuous 
19improvement; and
 
20    WHEREAS, CTE programs lead in supplying instruction for 
21careers in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations in 
 
 
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1a number of fields, including agriculture, health care, 
2business and finance, information technology, advanced 
3manufacturing, and education; and
 
4    WHEREAS, CTE programs provide relevant academic and 
5technical coursework, leading to college credits and 
6industry-recognized credentials for secondary and 
7postsecondary learners; these programs also offer smooth 
8pathways to and through postsecondary education and 
9employment, career exploration for grades K-12, and assistance 
10in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards; and
 
11    WHEREAS, CTE prepares students for tomorrow's careers and 
12drives economic growth by matching employability skills with 
13workforce demand, embedding work-based learning opportunities, 
14and allowing for local flexibility; and
 
15    WHEREAS, All students benefit from equity-centered 
16teaching practices, career-connected learning, opportunities 
17to develop and discover practical skills and strengths, and 
18career exploration; and
 
19    WHEREAS, CTE programs will play a critical role in 
20becoming the largest training provider for Electric Vehicle 
21Technology, thereby bolstering, supporting, and delivering 
22Governor JB Pritzker's goal for the State of Illinois to reach 
 
 
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1100% clean energy by 2050; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
3HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
4we declare the month of February 2024 as Career and Technical 
5Education Month in the State of Illinois.