WHEREAS, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide essential pathways to career success and economic mobility for thousands of New York City students; and

WHEREAS, CTE programs have demonstrated significant positive outcomes, including higher graduation rates, increased college enrollment, and better career preparation, with CTE concentrators having a graduation rate 10 percentage points higher than the national average; and

WHEREAS, despite their proven effectiveness, many CTE programs face chronic underfunding, inadequate resources, and outdated equipment that does not align with current industry standards; and

WHEREAS, inequitable funding patterns have disproportionately affected CTE programs in historically underserved communities, limiting access to high-quality career preparation for students who could benefit most; and

WHEREAS, the cost of maintaining industry-standard equipment, securing qualified instructors, and providing necessary materials for hands-on learning experiences continues to rise; and

WHEREAS, high-quality CTE programs require ongoing partnerships with industry professionals, regular curriculum updates, and continuous professional development for educators; therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the UFT calls upon the New York City Department of Education and the New York State Education Department to establish dedicated funding streams for CTE programs at the federal and state levels that ensure equitable distribution of resources across all boroughs and communities; and be it further

RESOLVED that the UFT advocates for additional funding at the federal and state levels, beyond Carl Perkins funding, specifically for CTE programs to cover essential equipment, materials, professional development, teacher externships, and industry certification costs; and be it further

RESOLVED that the UFT will work with the CTE Advisory Committee, comprising educators, industry partners, and community stakeholders, to implement these initiatives, with periodic public reporting on progress to ensure accountability and prioritize equitable resource distribution to historically underserved communities.