Terry Swett testifies before Commissioner, Board of Regents

Terry Swett, Career & Technical Education executive principal, spoke on September 13 to the New York State Board of Regents and Education Commissioner David Steiner about the value of career and technical education (CTE), integrated academics and applied learning, and the need to increase students’ career and college readiness. Swett stressed that students should have greater access to CTE programs.

"Having an opportunity to take a CTE course and to learn through applied instructional methods is good for ALL students," Swett told Steiner and the Regents, "whether it’s a program offered through BOCES, at a student’s home high school or through a project-based approach like Tech Valley High School."

Swett pointed out that "Students of all ability levels are experiencing greater success in school and graduating in higher numbers thanks to CTE and the integration of academic courses — English, science, math — into CTE. This is particularly true for students with Individualized Education Plans [those in special education], a higher percentage of whom graduate as opposed to their classmates who don’t take a CTE course." See chart at right. "Students who are successful in CTE are also better prepared for career and college," said Swett.

Swett also related to the Regents and the commissioner about how Career & Tech’s Build a Better Robot and SEMI High Tech U camps, held this summer, generated excitement and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in teens of all backgrounds. When asked by the Regents if all students could successfully learn STEM, Swett answered with a resounding "yes."

"Not all students leave high school prepared for college or careers, and many require remediation,” she said. “Applied learning such as that offered through CTE, integrated academics and project-based approaches benefit everyone."

Also speaking before the Regents and Commissioner Steiner on September 13 was Chris Aguirre, principal of City Polytechnic High School of Engineering, Architecture and Technology in Brooklyn. Swett and Aguirre spoke at a joint meeting of the Regents College and Career Readiness Working Group and the Regents P-12 Education Committee. Their comments will be considered in discussions about current state graduation requirements and potential multiple CTE pathways to graduation.