Schools pivot to CTE and dual enrollment for jobs

As workforce shortages and rising costs squeeze traditional education plans, one district is expanding career-focused training and dual enrollment—pairing high school career pathways with community college credits so students can move into work or further trai

Fullerton students pictured in an automotive program are not just learning tools and terminology for a class. In a policy climate shaped by workforce shortages. programs like these are becoming a direct pipeline to jobs—built into the high school years instead of postponed for years after graduation.

The pressure to adapt is showing up beyond campuses, too. The City Council in Fullerton recently approved the transition to a municipally operated ambulance service. The shift is framed as a public safety upgrade. but it also opens the door to new career opportunities locally—opportunities the district says it is starting to prepare for through an emergency medical training pathway at one of its high schools. where students can earn industry certifications and gain hands-on experience to enter the workforce as emergency medical technicians immediately after graduation.

The argument for change is blunt: a “four-year college for all” approach doesn’t match the range of student goals. circumstances. and needs. The commentary points to workforce demand coming in from a different direction. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that nearly 60% of new jobs created between 2020 and 2030 will be in occupations that typically do not require an associate. bachelor’s or graduate degree. With that forecast, the emphasis shifts toward early career exploration and workforce pathways long before graduation.

Career technical education is described as one of the core tools for that shift. The piece argues that CTE equips students with technical knowledge and practical skills through hands-on learning aligned with industry needs. connecting classroom instruction to real-world application. It also ties these programs to employer priorities: as employers increasingly prioritize skills and experience. CTE is presented as an important route to stable. high-wage careers.

The examples offered are specific—and focused on paths that can bring students into work faster than a traditional degree route. The commentary lists electricians. emergency medical technicians. firefighters. police officers and paramedics as examples of careers that. particularly in skilled trades. healthcare and public safety. can offer wages above the national median and opportunities for advancement. It also describes competitive salaries. strong benefits and long-term career growth. while emphasizing that students can enter the workforce more quickly and with far less student debt than a traditional four-year degree path.

In Fullerton Joint Union High School District, that philosophy is already tied to breadth. The district offers more than 40 career-focused pathways across seven high schools. including public safety. sports medicine and therapy. and video production. The programs. the commentary says. emphasize internships. pre-apprenticeships. industry certifications and other work-based learning experiences. with the goal that students graduate with both academic knowledge and practical skills.

A major part of that structure runs through the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program board. where the author serves as a representative. The piece describes regional occupational programs as a bridge between education and industry through a joint powers authority model. in which participating school districts share resources. pursue grants. and collaborate with regional employers. That arrangement is presented as a way to keep programs responsive to labor market needs while giving students access to industry-standard equipment and experienced instructors in fields including emergency services. digital media and graphic design.

The urgency is also connected to demographics. As baby boomers retire. the commentary says industries such as healthcare. construction. manufacturing and public service face growing shortages of skilled workers. Many of those positions, it argues, can be filled through CTE pathways that begin in high school.

Fullerton’s next step, according to the piece, starts soon. Beginning in the 2026–27 school year. the city plans to launch a firefighting cadet program. adding another opportunity for students to participate in mentorship and work-based learning. The commentary frames these partnerships—between schools. colleges and local governments—as a way to create practical pathways to middle-class careers.

But it doesn’t stop at CTE. Dual enrollment is presented as equally important for postsecondary success. The district. the author writes. has built seamless pathways between high school and higher education through partnerships with Fullerton College and Cypress College. During the 2024–25 school year alone, the commentary says students earned nearly 4,000 college credits through Fullerton College.

Dual enrollment. as described here. lets students take college-level courses while still in high school. earning transferable credits and. in some cases. industry certificates before graduation. The piece adds that these courses can accelerate progress toward a four-year degree or complement a CTE pathway by deepening technical expertise. It also cites the idea that students who participate in dual enrollment are more likely to graduate from high school and continue their education.

The through-line across the district’s approach is simple: when job demand doesn’t map neatly onto a single track. schools have to offer more than one door. More than 40 career pathways across seven high schools. a CTE network supported by the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program. and dual enrollment credits earned through Fullerton College and Cypress College are presented as the combined effort to meet that reality—so students graduate with choices aligned to work. training. or continued college education.

career technical education CTE dual enrollment Fullerton Joint Union High School District North Orange County ROP emergency medical technician firefighting cadet program workforce shortages