STEM Equity Initiative Blog

Questions from the field: How do we continue to increase numbers of male and female students in educational programs that are nontraditional for them?
Educational Equity, CTE, STEM Hannah Schmitz Educational Equity, CTE, STEM Hannah Schmitz

Questions from the field: How do we continue to increase numbers of male and female students in educational programs that are nontraditional for them?

I’m often asked the questions, “How can we affect changes in student selection decisions for career and technical education (CTE) programs of study?” and “How can I convince a girl entering high school to consider a program in manufacturing or building trades or a boy entering high school to consider a nursing program?” Because so many potential factors influence student course and program choices (e.g., parents, peers, prior learning, cultural bias, hormones, and more), how can educators ensure the all students have full access to any and all of the CTE programs? Equally important, how can educators ensure that progress toward increasing enrollment for traditionally underrepresented students continue over time?

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