Career and Technical Education (CTE) | Funding | Health Science | High School | Teacher Retention | Middle School | Work-Based Learning
The health science industry is experiencing an unprecedented worker gap that threatens its ability to provide quality healthcare in the United States and around the world.
CTE has a critical role to play in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals to overcome this deficit and provide excellent care for people of all ages.
According to a new report from iCEV and Catapult X, many CTE programs and their leaders are also facing unique challenges that make it difficult for them to successfully prepare these future workers for career success.
In this article, you’ll learn about the top five challenges facing CTE administrators according to iCEV’s health industry report. These challenges include:
- Hiring Teachers with Industry Experience
- Finding Funding for Programs
- Retaining Qualified Teachers
- Developing Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Students
- Finding Engaging Instructional Materials for CTE Educators
When you’ve finished reading, you’ll be able to better identify these specific challenges as they relate to the health science career pathway so you can work to solve them in your CTE program.
1. Hiring Teachers with Industry Experience
Career and technical education (CTE) relies on the unique expertise of former industry professionals to ensure learners receive the specialized skills they need to succeed in the field. This is no truer than in health science, where career professionals can offer firsthand experience to new students.
However, many CTE administrators presently struggle with attracting talented, experienced health science teachers. According to iCEV and Catapult's research, 60 percent of CTE administrators reported that finding instructors with a background working in the health science industry is a challenge, the highest percentage of any challenge reported.
There are varied reasons why programs struggle to attract health science professionals. Sometimes, it may be due to the existing shortage of professionals in the area. The difference in salary between teaching in a CTE program and working in a medical setting is also a factor.
Ultimately, programs can work to attract more health science teachers by demonstrating the value they bring to their communities, incentivizing professionals through competitive salaries and other benefits, and ensuring that new teachers are equipped for success.
Supporting new teachers through professional development and a comprehensive health science curriculum can help make the transition more attractive to potential new CTE instructors.
2. Finding Funding for CTE Programs
The need for consistent CTE funding is an ongoing problem facing many CTE program leaders. Most CTE programs rely on funding from the federal government and state departments of education. However, there are always opportunities to expand and improve programs, and often schools don’t have enough funding to keep up with the demand.
When schools receive competitive grants and other forms of CTE funding, they’re able to purchase new equipment, expand the programs they offer, and prepare more students for career success.
However, with 53 percent of CTE administrators reporting that finding funding is a challenge, how can you go about ensuring that you have enough resources to meet the needs of your teachers and students?
The best way to ensure that you maintain your annual allotment of Perkins funding and remain eligible for competitive grants is to continually prove the value of your CTE program with data.
Consider how you can track and report on key indicators of your program’s performance, like industry certifications and work-based learning. Showing your success in these areas in reports and grant applications can help your program distinguish itself from others.
When you’re able to use data to maximize CTE funding, you’ll be able to provide a reliable stream of resources you can use to enhance and expand your program.
3. Retaining Qualified Teachers
According to iCEV’s health science report, the third biggest challenge experienced by CTE administrators is retaining qualified teachers. In fact, 51 percent of those surveyed reported that keeping teachers year after year is a challenge for their programs.
In general, CTE programs face similar challenges in keeping teachers as they do in attracting professionals from the field. Because most health science educators come from industry, there is always the opportunity they might choose to return to work in a medical setting.
While some health science educators may depart the field in pursuit of increased pay or the chance to specialize in a particular area, one of the most common reasons for their departure often stems from feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or lacking support in their roles.
Thankfully, program leaders can combat these challenges by supporting new and returning teachers with a high-quality curriculum that is easy to use, along with continual professional development that makes instructors feel confident and valued in their role.
4. Developing Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Students
Work-based learning (WBL) is a pivotal part of a successful CTE program, so it might come as a surprise that 48 percent of administrators reported that they have difficulty developing these opportunities for their health science students.
Since careers in healthcare involve learning particular skills and working in specialized environments such as hospitals and laboratories, gaining this experience while enrolled in a CTE program is often a major step toward receiving a job directly out of high school.
For many schools, building a successful work-based learning program involves partnering with local medical providers and hospitals to provide both in-class work-based experiences (WBE) for students, including guest speakers, site visits, and job shadowing.
As students develop, they’ll often take part in full-scale work-based learning opportunities with these industry partners, which can sometimes lead to jobs for certified graduates after they finish their programs.
Consider opportunities to expand your partnerships with local organizations. Tracking work-based learning with a data management solution can help you prove the value of your CTE program, helping pave the way for additional WBL experiences for your students.
5. Finding Engaging Instructional Materials for CTE Educators
Finally, 32 percent of CTE administrators still struggle with finding high-quality instructional resources for their teachers. An engaging curriculum is critical to the success of a health science program because it helps ensure students are motivated, learning, and prepared for industry certifications and career success.
When teachers know they have a curriculum they can rely on, they can be more confident in their instruction, spend more time with their students, and reduce the number of hours they spend planning and grading. Ultimately, this leads to instructors feeling more supported and less likely to burn out and leave education. In this way, an effective health science curriculum can help administrators solve multiple challenges at the same time.
Ultimately, administrators should work to find a curriculum that’s comprehensive—including lesson plans, activities, and assessments—and easy for teachers to adapt. Choosing a cohesive health science curriculum, such as iCEV, will ensure students have a uniform learning experience that ensures they’re ready to work in the industry.
Learn More About How CTE Can Bridge the Health Worker Gap
In this article, you’ve learned about the five biggest challenges related to the health science industry faced by today’s CTE administrators. Collectively, these potential obstacles can limit a program’s ability to provide quality educational opportunities that lead learners to successful healthcare careers.
Thankfully, there are also clear ways schools can solve these problems by supporting teachers, building community partnerships, and continually proving the value of their work in preparing the next generation of industry professionals.
CTE has a unique role to play in preparing learners for the health science industry, which is facing an unprecedented shortage of qualified workers.
Want to learn more about how your program can make a difference? Download the complete Bridging the 10 Million Health Worker Gap: The Impact of CTE Educators report to learn how your program can help in your community:
