As the evidence will show, paralegals have become a vital part of today's law offices. More law offices are hiring paralegals to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services, thus placing these important legal-team players in high demand. There are a variety of paths to becoming a paralegal or legal assistant. The…

Certificates have become an important career credential and can give students an advantage when they enter the workplace. However, many types of certificates exist, and the number of people seeking them and organizations offering them are both growing rapidly. In a time of such growth, the authors review some of the basics about certification--the…

Enrollment marketing is not just about enrollment; it is about creating relationships and serving one's community or target audience for many years. In this article, the author states that the first step in building such relationships is making a connection, and that is what effective marketing is all about. Administrators, teachers and critical…

Providing information and resources to support career exploration is key to the mission of career and technical education (CTE) in Utah. Utah CTE has responded in a variety of ways to meet the career exploration needs of students of all ages. This article discusses how the career and technical education in Utah delivers opportunities for career…

In this article, the author describes how he has toured many impressive schools over the years and has heard one familiar statement that amazes him: "We are the best-kept secret in town." How can a school exist for any significant period of time and be virtually unknown to the community it serves? The truth is that if one considers his school to…

This article reports that at the 2006 ACTE National Policy Seminar, nearly 500 career and technical educators gathered in Washington, DC, in March to learn about what is happening with Perkins, receive tips on working with the media, and voice their opinions with their federal representatives. Attendees left this session armed with the statistics…

In this paper, marketing specialist Mark Perna offers advice on how career and technical schools can market themselves and their programs. To become "enrollment rich," he suggests the following: (1) develop a brand plan--something that separates your organization from competitors in the mind of the community; (2) deliver the message--the community…

It had been more than 20 years since ACTE had held its Annual Convention and Career Tech Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, and the overwhelming success of this year's Convention guaranteed that there won't be another 20 years in between visits. More than 6,000 career and technical educators filled the Georgia World Congress Center to network with…

In this article, the winning essays of the Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay Contest are presented. In the two winning essays, the authors describe how to explain the value of career and technical education (CTE) to a new student. Shi Meicheng, Secondary Winner, states that CTE has provided her with a toolbox for success while Ginnie Bushong,…

This article features the educators who received top honors at the ACTE Convention in Kansas City last December. The educators who received top honors share a dedication to career and technical education and to their professional organizations. Among others, Kevin English, who currently serves as the industrial education department chair at Peoria…

This article presents a brief summary of statewide applications of industry-based certifications (IBCs). Many state systems and local institutions are developing additional creative ways of using IBCs to support learning and program objectives. The technology of assessment and certification is advancing, so the snapshot of "the current reality"…

Parkland College continues to move ahead with an innovative and diversified curriculum while laying valuable groundwork for future success in the neighboring high school classrooms by providing the option of dual credit programs. In 1963, the boards of education for both the cities of Champaign and Urbana, Illinois, began discussing the…

In Oklahoma, the state's CareerTech system is helping to provide resources and expertise to preserve the quality of life in rural communities. Just as many metropolitan areas feel the choke of urban sprawl, rural Oklahoma has, to a great extent, become the carbon copy of small towns across this country that are losing jobs, people and wealth.…

Discusses the boom in entrepreneurship education programs and ascribes it to a response to marketplace realities. Suggests that the programs are expanding students' career options and better preparing them for life's challenges. Sidebars discuss mentoring and list entrepreneurship-related organizations. (JOW)

This article discusses marketing as an important tool in getting out the message that really matters about the value of career and technical education. Across the United States, a number of career tech schools are employing marketing strategies to make their communities aware of the benefits of career and technical education. One of these schools,…