WHEREAS, Career and Technical Education (CTE) offer students the opportunity to gain the academic, technical, and employability skills necessary for true career readiness, through participation in authentic, meaningful experiences that improve the quality of their education and increase their engagement and achievement; and

WHEREAS, career and technical education provide students with career exploration opportunities earlier in their educational experience, which enables them to make informed and beneficial decisions about their academic coursework and pursue established programs of study and career pathways; and

WHEREAS, Nevada faces critical workforce demands in essential sectors that support our communities, and it is imperative that students are equipped with the skills to fill roles in various industries; and

WHEREAS, business leaders nationwide report increasing challenges related to addressing the skills gap and connecting qualified professionals with available careers in critical and growing CTE-related fields; and

WHEREAS, career and technical education prepare students for these and other fulfilling careers by offering integrated programs of study that link secondary and postsecondary education and lead to the attainment of industry-recognized credentials; and

WHEREAS, ensuring that employers have access to a qualified workforce is a crucial step in ensuring productivity among the business and industry communities as well as continued American economic growth and global competitiveness;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim February 2026, as

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH IN NEVADA