About 1,600 high school juniors and seniors from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will be attending skilled trades’ career exploration events over the next month as part of the District’s expanding efforts to increase student exposure to a variety of postsecondary pathways. The events are part of an ongoing collaboration with City agencies, City Colleges of Chicago, and labor and corporate partners, bringing students together with government institutions, community-based organizations, and companies offering access to training, internship opportunities, and potential employment.  CPS currently offers 34 Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways at more than 80 high schools across the city, including 12 programs in construction trades, five in carpentry, three in electricity, three in welding, and one HVAC program.

The District’s CTE programs allow students to gain work experience for in-demand careers as well as provide opportunities to earn early college credit and industry-recognized certifications and skills training at seven CPS high schools.  The events are open to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in the trades and are eligible to apply to apprenticeships or bridge programs, which prepare students for entry into apprenticeships through technical skill development and academic readiness support. At the Skilled Trades events, City Colleges will introduce students to Career Launch Chicago (CLC) and its innovative summer Aim to Launch (A2L) program, which enables high school students to earn college credits in construction and advanced manufacturing at City Colleges of Chicago.