Advance CTE

Intermediaries are the glue to sustainable career pathways. But what are they exactly? Intermediaries are the workforce pipeline connectors that bring in K-12, postsecondary, employer, and other institutions to make and sustain connections for learners to prepare and be in successful careers. Intermediaries can range from chambers of commerce to community foundations to regional coalitions. ? Our work in the New Skills ready network, a partnership between Advance CTE, JPMorganChase, and Education Strategy Group, is tackling the shortage of intermediaries in career pathways, including career technical education (CTE), with a fresh approach: leveraging trusted community organizations as site leads. Instead of building new entities, this model empowers existing partners to bridge connections, drive collaboration, and enhance career pathways while adapting their roles to meet their needs. Next week, Advance CTE will release the latest publication in our New Skills ready network series, sharing the lessons learned from the role & support of intermediaries. Take a look at past resources to get refreshed! https://lnkd.in/eAfNx4hk

Registration for Spring Meeting closes tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET! We are excited for you to join us April 23-25 at the MGM National Harbor to be equipped with the tools, strategies, and connections to lead with confidence and take charge of Career Technical Education’s endless potential ?? https://lnkd.in/eDpfD5tn

"I see higher education institutions and industries starting to work more closely together and eventually speak the same language to create direct pipelines for learners to be deployed to work. The challenges will be ensuring all facets of the population will be afforded access to the opportunities.?" Terryn Batiste Read more about agent of change, Terryn Batiste, an accreditation and license/certification manager at Houston Community College (HCC) in Houston, Texas, and a Fellow in the third cohort of the Postsecondary State CTE Leaders Fellowship at Advance CTE - Sponsored by ECMC Foundation. https://lnkd.in/e6KzSGq9

Strong industry partnerships make a difference! Dominion Energy visited Chesterfield Technical Center to connect with CTE learners, showcase industry equipment, and highlight career opportunities in the energy sector during #CTEMonth. A recent graduate of Chesterfield Technical Center who is now working at Dominion Energy shared, “The reason why I like the tech center so much is that they try to get you a job. At the end of this, you’re gonna have some sort of credential, some sort of guidance to find a good job.” Opportunities like this ensure learners have early and direct exposure to high-demand careers and that they gain the skills, confidence, and connections to succeed. Check out the CBS 6 News Richmond feature to see it in action: https://lnkd.in/ehJWQFb4 or read about this event and more in our CTE Month 2025 Highlights: https://lnkd.in/eYibpsrB Images Courtesy of Craig Carper, Dominion Energy Chesterfield County Public Schools

The National Career Clusters Framework is being seen far and wide! From validation to awareness building to innovative implementation, Advance CTE engages the entire Career Technical Education community and strives for the Framework to be used by every school and educator in and beyond CTE. Our new 2024 Annual Report shares outcomes data from the Framework modernization: https://lnkd.in/eZcZQQMu

"By embedding leadership development into every aspect of their education, we ensure that our learners are not only career-ready but also adaptable, forward-thinking professionals who are prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing workforce." - Katina Lindsay Fellow Katina "Kay" Lindsay shares more about her journey from the world of high fashion to the hands-on learning, mentoring, and preparation of the future workforce within Career Technical Education (CTE) in this newest Fellow Feature blog. Read it here https://lnkd.in/egUU_Zbt

Let’s be clear. Investment in public education is the primary way to ensure local economic development and national competitiveness. Education is the great equalizer - ensuring every learner in every community has the opportunity to thrive in work and in life. This is a value shared by Americans across the nation who, rightly, desire a public education system that lives up to this promise. The Executive Order signed by President Trump this afternoon to “Close the Department of Education” does not align with these values and sends the wrong message. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) plays a critical role in supporting states and local communities—who have always been in control of education—by providing strategic support and the resources necessary to ensure all learners have a fair shot at a quality education and the opportunities it unlocks for the future. READ: Last week, Advance CTE and the Association for Career and Technical Education released a statement regarding the staffing and funding actions at the ED and their impacts on the Career Technical Education (CTE) community. As we wrote, “we urge the Administration to reconsider these actions, which do not meet our nation’s needs and will be harmful to millions of CTE students enrolled in middle schools, high schools, area technical centers, and community and technical colleges throughout the country.”

TL:DR: The newest post on the Learning that Works! Blog recaps the Year in Review webinar and highlights the top 5 trends in the CTE policy landscape in 2024. If you’re new to Career Technical Education (CTE), check out a high-level summary of the Year in Review report and webinar in our State Policy blog series. Our Learning that Works! Blog is a great way to hear about the policy landscape and national trends impacting the field. Read it now! https://lnkd.in/eNKZeRvJ

The 74 identified Workforce Development and Career Education as a top education issue for governors in their 2025 State of the State addresses. This signals career education, including Career Technical Education, continues to be a go-to policy solution across the country to improve education and workforce quality and readiness. “Twelve governors highlighted workforce development and career education, focusing on expanding high school career training, strengthening industry partnerships and aligning postsecondary programs with workforce needs. More than half of these efforts target K-12 students.” Read The 74’s analysis of 2025 State of the State addresses:

Yesterday, we were proud to have our member and Maryland State CTE Director Richard W. Kincaid speak at the Committee for Education Funding (CEF)’s?congressional briefing on Capitol Hill yesterday on the value of federal education investments to prepare every student for career and life success. In his words:? “Y’all means ALL. Every student. Every zip code. Every background. Everyone. By design, at least 85% of Perkins CTE funds flow directly to local schools and colleges, and states can target a reserve of funds specifically to rural districts, high-poverty areas, or schools with performance gaps so that no community is left behind.” He also spoke about the high return on investment federal Career Technical Education funding through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) gives to communities: “Carl D. Perkins-funded career and technical education [CTE] programs deliver a higher return on investment than nearly any other funding stream, fueling local, state, and national economies by strengthening workforce readiness and supplying businesses with a pipeline of skilled, job-ready workers.” Perkins V is the primary federal investment in CTE systems across the nation for learners to develop real-world skills and earn credentials to be ready for in-demand jobs. We are grateful to have CTE and career education represented beside California State University’s Vice Chancellor Jeff Cullen and Maine School District 54 Superintendent Jonathan Moody, echoing the impact federal education funds have on communities large and small, urban and rural, and everywhere in between.