For Immediate Release September 17, 2018
Contact: Ted Fisher, ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Barre, VT. – The Agency of Education this week announced its endorsement of the National Center for Construction Education and Research’s (NCCER) “Introductory Craft Skills” curriculum (www.nccer.org). The NCCER curriculum is used across the nation in education and training programs, by schools, colleges and employers’ in-house training programs. It culminates in stackable credentials and is being implemented this fall in all regional career technical education (CTE) center construction trades programs as part of a larger state initiative to develop career pathways in construction.
“Vermont is facing a shortage of skilled trades workers,” said Governor Phil Scott. “As people in the construction industry are quickly reaching retirement age, we lack a pipeline to fill those openings. We need to be doing everything we can to face this issue head-on, not only in the construction sector but across the economy,” Governor Scott added.
“The Agency of Education is doing its part to ensure that students leaving CTE programs have skills that employers are consistently telling us they need and to ensure that CTE students have the opportunity to pursue education beyond high school – whether it be a certificate, degree, or an apprenticeship,” said Deputy Secretary Heather Bouchey.
The endorsement of this curriculum is the result of several years of work, led by the Agency of Education, and conducted in partnership with the CTE center construction trades teachers and CTE center directors. The River Valley Technical Center in Springfield, Vermont and their construction trades teacher, Erin Hunter, along with Engelberth Construction and Trumbell-Nelson Construction played a key role in advocating for the adoption of the NCCER curriculum. The Vermont Talent Pipeline, a part of the Vermont Business Roundtable, played a pivotal role in convening members of the Construction Employer Collaborative to review and adopt the curriculum and credentials.
Jay Ramsey, the state’s Director of Career Technical Education (CTE) said “the Talent Pipeline has been a fantastic partner in this process. If they hadn’t been involved, we would not have employers across the state telling us they want to see applicants with these credentials. Employers committed to preferential hiring, and even higher starting wages for people coming to them with NCCER credentials.”