After an exciting first year, the AIRSS team is proud to launch the second volume ofThe Prairie Career Advocate. This storytelling effort is part of the Rural IL CTE Project that AIRSS and the Illinois State Board of Education began in 2023. The first issue of this new volume features Stillman Valley High School (Meridian USD #223).
Read the full story to learn more about the successes of their CTE programming and how your district could potentially start a similar program in your community. The links in the document will work if it is downloaded to a computer; otherwise you can find them at the bottom of this page. You may download the PDF by clicking the three dots on the bottom right of the menu, then clicking “Download.”
If you have any questions or comments about the Advocate, please contact Program Director John Glasgow at john@airssedu.org.
Manufacturing in rural America: A plan for K–12–industry partnerships
Cutting through the neverending negative narratives about rural areas, there are incredible opportunities for rural CTE growth already present in our regions and state. This most recent research from the McKinsey Institute underscores how changes in the US Economy are driving a desperate need for professionals with advanced manufacturing skills, and that rural schools are best poised to deliver these quickly and with quality. The research concludes, in part, that not only are 8 in 10 rural students interested in career education, but that the field is ripe for deep partnerships between industry and education to meet these converging trends.
In Case You Missed It…
The Rural IL CTE Project is proud to announce that our second full annual research report is published! This expands and deepens the findings from the initial report in 2024. The report serves as an addendum providing additional perspectives and context for the findings of the original report. Most importantly this second report shares data from a survey sent to all rural and small schools, as well as targeted white papers on key rural CTE topics.
Rural IL CTE Project Portal
Visit the Rural IL CTE Project Portal for the latest tools, tips, guides, and resources your rural CTE program needs! From research, case studies, an asset map, and more, we’re working to provide you with everything you need to grow and sustain an exemplary program for students. The Portal is updated regularly with new content, and any suggestions and criticisms are welcome.
The links on this page, and throughout the Advocate, are active and clickable when viewed in the original PDF format.