Hyslop says any student can benefit from CTE options, regardless of whether they’re choosing to extend their education after high school graduation. Classes that provide some exposure to potential fields — and the details learners may encounter — before they leave K-12 may open the door to further interests or help them learn more about future job pursuits.
“After the first time they take someone’s blood pressure or pretend to give a mannequin an injection, maybe they’ll decide they want to pursue a different science career,” she said. “That career exploration is an important part of high school.”