Written by Eli Weinzveg, Executive Director of CTE Foundation

As students head back to class, Santa Rosa City Schools is reimagining some of its secondary campuses for a new 7-12 model. This shift creates an unprecedented opportunity for younger students to gain earlier exposure and even access to programs, classrooms and industry-standard tools that prepare them for college and careers.

Career technical education programs are key to making this opportunity meaningful. CTE programs provide students hands-on learning to develop the skills necessary for what comes after graduation. These programs are aligned with growing local industries like health care, renewable energy, IT, construction and agriculture. Students in CTE programs graduate at higher rates and report feeling more prepared for postsecondary education and career pathways than their peers, showing that when education meets opportunity, communities thrive.

The data is also clear, strongly affirming that students engaged in CTE have more positive outcomes than students who are not. The average graduation rate for non-CTE students is 85%, compared to a graduation rate of 96% for CTE concentrators, according to the Association for Career and Technical Education. In Sonoma County, CTE students report feeling more prepared for college and career, according to the California Department of Education dashboard and YouthTruth survey research.

Still, too many Sonoma County students — especially those from underrepresented communities — face barriers to accessing career technical education programs, or what we call “career-connected learning,” that prepare them for their future. That is why CTE Foundation of Sonoma County is launching “Path to Purpose,” a youth-centered internship program for high school students countywide. The program is designed to create barrier-free access to high-quality, paid internships and work-based learning aligned to students’ interests, postsecondary education and career aspirations.

This program won’t only prepare students for jobs, it will open doors to futures they may never have imagined. This program will offer real exposure to industries with strong growth and lasting opportunity.

Path to Purpose is one CTE program that isn’t only supporting individual students but strengthening the entire community. As Santa Rosa City Schools expands its grade models, we have a chance to reach more students earlier and help them dream bigger and start preparing sooner for life beyond school.

Now is the moment for businesses to open their doors to student interns — offering real-world experience that inspires and prepares the next generation of talent. It is also time for schools to continue to make career-connected learning a priority, ensuring every student has access to pathways that lead to thriving futures.

The choices we make today will shape Sonoma County for decades. By working together — business leaders, educators and community members — we can build a future where every young person has the skills, experiences and confidence to succeed. The future is ours to shape; let’s choose it together.