CTE Student Organizations

Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are an essential component of a strong CTE field. ACTE works closely with the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations to share and coordinate CTE resources. Download this CTSO Guide to learn more about the importance of CTSO’s to the CTE community.  

Congratulations to Dan Bednarcyzk, a senior at Elmwood Park High School. Dan was elected Illinois DECA Vice-President on October 5th after achieving the highest score on the qualification test and impressing business leaders as part of the screening.  He was then elected by delegates from each state DECA chapter. Dan will be part of the State Action Team directing the communication and activities of DECA chapters across the state and during the State Career Development Conference in March.  As part of that program of work, the State Action Team enables leaders from all the DECA chapters to connect with the officers to promote entrepreneurship and marketing education. This unique leadership opportunity allows Dan to network with business leaders, collaborate with marketing and entrepreneurship students across the state and develop his own leadership and organizational skills. www.ildeca.org.
Elmwood Park DECA is very proud to announce a first!  Two of our student leaders have been elected to the Illinois DECA State Action Team.  Basia Wilczek was elected Vice President and Vincent Virgilio is the new Illinois State DECA President.  To attain this position they competed against DECA members from across the state by first taking a comprehensive exam.  After achieving high results on the test, they were interviewed by a team of business leaders.  The final hurdle was to meet with their constituents, student members, through speeches and questions.  After the final vote was cast, Elmwood Park filled two of the five positions!  Vince and Basia will represent Illinois DECA at meetings and conferences as well as help direct the Program of Work for the year.  Congratulations to Vince and Basia on their impressive achievement!

Business Professionals of America  
(Illinois Recognized) Business Professionals of America is a student organization that has a long history of contributing to the preparation of a world-class workforce. Students in the Middle, Secondary and Post-Secondary levels participate in comprehensive programs including the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills. Through co-curricular programs and services, members of Business Professionals of America compete in demonstrations of their business technology skills, develop their professional and leadership skills, network with one another and professionals across the nation, and get involved in the betterment of their community through good works projects.

DECA 
(Illinois Recognized) DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. DECA enhances the preparation for college and careers by providing programs that integrate into classroom instruction, apply learning, connect to business and promote competition.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America 
(Illinois Recognized) Since 1945, FCCLA members have been making a difference in their families, careers and communities by addressing important personal, work and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education. Today over 227,000 members are active in a network of associations in 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Involvement in FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life—planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision-making and interpersonal communication—necessary in the home and workplace.

Future Business Leaders of America—Phi Beta Lambda 
(Illinois Recognized) Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) is the premier business career student organization in the world.  Each year, FBLA-PBL helps over 250,000 members prepare for careers in business and business-related fields.  FBLA-PBL has four membership divisions: FBLA-ML for middle school, FBLA for high school, PBL for college, and the Professional Division for alumni, business professionals, educators and supporters.

Future Educators Association
The Future Educators Association (FEA), sponsored by PDK International, is a student organization that provides students interested in education-related careers with activities and materials that help them explore the teaching profession in a variety of ways. FEA helps students develop the skills and strong leadership traits that are found in high-quality educators and significantly contributes to the development of the next generation of great educators.

HOSA – Future Health Professionals
(Illinois Recognized) HOSA is a national leadership organization for students enrolled in health or biomedical science programs. HOSA is 100% health! The mission of HOSA is to recruit and retain qualified students to the health professions and provide personal, career and leadership development opportunities to be academic, college and career ready.  

The National FFA Organization and Affiliate
(Illinois Recognized) FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan delivered the keynote address at the 2013 National FFA Convention. Click here for a video!

National Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization 
The National Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization is an organization associated with agriculture/agribusiness and natural resources offerings in approved postsecondary institutions offering associate degrees or vocational diplomas and/or certificates.

National Young Farmer Educational Association 
National Young Farmer Educational Association is the official adult student organization for agricultural education as recognized by the United States Department of Education. With the goal of being America’s Association for Educating Agricultural Leaders, the association features leadership training, agricultural career education and community service opportunities.

SkillsUSA 
(Illinois Recognized) SkillsUSA is a national organization serving high school and college students and professional members who are enrolled in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations.

Technology Student Association 
(Illinois Recognized) The Technology Student Association (TSA) is the only student organization devoted exclusively to the needs of technology education students who are presently enrolled in, or have completed, technology education courses.

Science Olympiad

(Illinois Recognized) STEM co-curricular programs like Science Olympiad provide young adults with a glimpse into the future by providing opportunities for career exploration and mentoring, achieving results: 75% of female students who have a mentor feel they will be successful pursuing a STEM career.

Educators Rising

(Illinois Recognized) Educators Rising is a community-based model, in which chapters at schools feed teacher preparation programs at institutes of higher education with the support of  State Departments of Education and local funders and foundations. These entities come together to provide a clear pathway to increase teacher diversity and teacher quality.