Retooling America’s Educational System is a compelling call to action from an insider who has witnessed firsthand the cracks in our nation’s educational foundation, namely the steadfast and one-sided push for college education. Drawing on years of experience, the author exposes the deep-rooted inequities inhibiting technical and trade education.

This book shines a spotlight on real-world solutions, including a successful School-to-Registered Apprenticeship Program that transformed student outcomes—from just 50% job placement to an astounding 98%. Through this and other case studies, readers will see the potential of a fully integrated Y-track system that prepares students not only for college, but for life.

Exploring the impacts of funding gaps, union dynamics, and Right-to-Work legislation, Retooling America’s Educational System reveals how current policies are perpetuating inequality for students with trade-oriented skills—and what we can do to fix it.

Gordon L. Love brings over thirty-five years of experience in career technical education as an educator, tradesman, and program developer. With a background in architectural design and carpentry, he has taught across multiple states, including at Chicago’s Hines Veterans Hospital and in Wyoming’s Building Trades program, where he also coached football and wrestling. In Michigan, he spent fifteen years leading the Work-Based Learning placement office at Kent Career Technical Center, helping students transition from school to registered apprenticeships. Love holds a BS in industrial education, a master’s in career technical education and administration, and is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator specializing in career education and assessment. His lifelong passion is helping young people discover their unique paths through meaningful education and training.