Career and Technical EducationIn the sterile field of the cardiac catheter lab, a student watches over a cardiologist's head as a surgical technician recounts his role in the standard ablation. This is just one of many pivotal experiences a student in Liberty High School’s Allied Health CTE program can expect. The student is on a path made available by the Western Maricopa Education Center and, if followed correctly, this student can expect to graduate from high school as a skilled worker in the medical field. Allied Health is just a small part of a much larger picture that provides ever-increasing opportunities for high school students before they graduate. Career and technical education courses aim to prepare high school students to enter the workforce in a skilled trade. It gives students the experience and training needed to succeed in a mid-skill level job while maintaining their interest. In an article about an aviation CTE program, a "senior policy analyst at the Morrison Institute said career and technical education provides another opportunity for students struggling in high school." The assumption is that students who struggle in high school probably don't want four additional years of study to earn a bachelor's degree. Until recently, schools were excessively oriented toward college preparation. The dogma was primary school, high school, college, without exception. With the establishment of this “one size fits all” educational system, a different educational program had to evolve. CTE courses provide a break from the tedious routine by introducing career preparation as an alternative. Instead of the four years at a college, CTE programs give the student...... middle of paper ......r] to stay on top of [their] grant applications on behalf of [its] students, because this is what allows the greatest number of students to participate in the program. It's a constant struggle between encouraging [one's] students to succeed to prove the value of the program and using the value of the program to win more funding. She uses the grants to purchase supplies to teach students in the program and help cover costs. Overall, CTE programs are an extremely beneficial option for high school students. They offer the student the opportunity to gain insight into the field they are considering and allow them to solidify their decision or give them the opportunity to change careers early on. Although cost is a major factor when it comes to enabling these programs, giving the student the opportunity to learn and grow in an alternative environment may be worth raising funds for...