Butler and Mercer, PA - Today, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Deputy Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Dr. Jeffrey Fuller and Director of the Bureau of Career and Technical Education Dr. Lee Burket visited the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School and Mercer County Career Center, highlighting how their programs are creating pipelines from the classroom to the workforce.
“To invest in the future of our children and our Commonwealth, we need to prepare today’s learners for tomorrow’s opportunities,” said Deputy Secretary Fuller. “That is exactly what is happening in Butler and Mercer counties, and across Pennsylvania. Today’s visits showed the invaluable impact of career and technical education for students, and the importance of Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget to give every Pennsylvanian the tools they need to succeed.”
To ensure every Pennsylvania student has the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunities to succeed, Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed a $17.3 million increase in career and technical education (CTE) in his 2023-24 budget. This includes a $3.3 million increase to the CTE Equipment Grant, $5 million increase to expand CTE programs related to computer science and STEM, and $2 million to partner industry professionals with teachers to help bring the trades back into our classrooms.
The Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School (AVTS) provides 16 programs of study to 10th through 12th grade students from the following Butler County school districts: Butler Area, Karns City Area, Knoch, Mars Area, Moniteau, Seneca Valley, and Slippery Rock Area. Adult education programs are also available during evening hours.
The Mercer County Career Center (MCCC) serves all 12 school districts in Mercer County, and offers a variety of career technical programs, including work-based based learning programs and adult education programs. In November 2023, MCCC will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Currently, more than 220 school districts, charter schools, and career and technical centers in Pennsylvania offer nearly 2,000 PDE-approved CTE programs providing education and training to nearly 68,600 students.