The Alabama Career/Technical Association

We are affiliated with the National Association for Career and Technical Education, which is career and technical education’s voice in Washington, D.C. We are Alabama’s link to Capitol Hill on federal legislative issues affecting career and technical education.

One of our main functions is to represent our membership before the legislature. We track legislation, educate legislators on career and technical education issues, attend meetings and network with other education organizations.

AACTE:

1. •co-sponsors with the Alabama State Department of Education the annual professional development workshop.
   

2. •holds an annual Leadership Seminar to promoting Leadership Opportunities.
   

3. •recognizes outstanding career and technical education teachers, educators, and new teachers with a new awards program.
   

4. •offers members the opportunity to purchase numerous publications and other resources through our affiliation with the national ACTE.
   

5. •provides members with opportunities for professional development.
   

What is Career/Technical Education?

Career and technical education is about helping students, workers and lifelong learners of all ages fulfill their working potential. First and foremost it's about high school and college education that provides students with:

1. •Academic subject matter taught with relevance to the real world, often called contextual learning.
   

2. •Employability skills, from job-related skills to workplace ethics.
   

3. •Education pathways that help students explore interests and careers in the process of progressing through school.
   

But career and technical education is also about:

1. •Second-chance education and training for the unemployed and those seeking to upgrade their employability skills.
   

2. •Education to earn additional degrees, especially when related to career advancement.
   

3. •Corporate training, continuing education, skills upgrades and refresher courses for those already in the workplace.