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Overview
SkillsUSA is a
partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives,
working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. We
help every student to excel.
SkillsUSA is a
national organization serving teachers and high school and college
students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and
service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA was
formerly known as VICA (the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).
Facts & Information
Membership
More than 307,000 student and instructors join SkillsUSA annually,
organized into more than 15,000 sections and 54 state and
territorial associations. SkillsUSA has served more than 9.3
million members. Arizona's membership annually exceeds 7800
students, teachers and industry partners.
Mission
SkillsUSA is an applied method of instruction for preparing
America’s high performance workers in public career and technical
programs. It provides quality education experiences for students in
leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It
builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and
communications skills. It emphasizes total quality at work: high
ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education, and
pride in the dignity of work. SkillsUSA also promotes understanding
of the free-enterprise system and involvement in community service.
Partners
Currently, 15,166 teachers and school administrators serve as
professional SkillsUSA members and instructors. More than 1,100
business, industry and labor sponsors actively support SkillsUSA at
the national level through financial aid, in-kind contributions, and
involvement of their people in SkillsUSA activities. Many more work
directly with state associations and local chapters.
Programs
SkillsUSA
programs include local, state and national competitions in which
students demonstrate occupational and leadership skills. At the
annual national-level SkillsUSA Championships, over 5,000 students
compete in 87 occupational and leadership skill areas.
SkillsUSA
programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill
training in the lab and classroom, and promote community service.
SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is
cited as a "successful model of employer-driven youth development
training program" by the U.S. Department of Labor. |
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The United States Department of Education recognizes 10 national
career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) as integral to
career and technical education. CTSOs provide a uncommon experience
for middle/junior high, high school and college students, including:
leadership development, employability skills training and the
importance of being a responsible American citizen.
Each year
millions of working adults join one or more professional
associations in specific and general career fields. CTSOs are NOT
"clubs". SkillsUSA is the first professional organization students
can join. An integrated SkillsUSA section includes a wide range of
activities that model "adult" professional organizations, including:
gaining community support, networking, supporting your local
community, and work experience. In other words, a CTSO works best
when it is utilized as part of the program of instruction and is
administered by a teacher (Advisor) who is committed to development
of the entire student (i.e. technical skills, leadership skills,
employability skills, etc.)
The Carl D. Perkins
Vocational Education Act defines career and technical education as
“organized educational programs which are directly related to the
preparation of individuals in paid or unpaid employment . . . and
vocational student organization activities as an integral part of
the program.”
For more information
on the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act and career and
technical education training visit these websites:
www.acteonline.org.
For more information on the School to Work Opportunities Act click
here:
http://ed.gov/offices/OVAE/CTE/perkins.html
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