Career & Technical Education

Read more about classes and programs that are designed to prepare students for work

Explainer

High school seniors Alex Yates, left, and David Romero work on an assembly line machine in a mechatronics class in the career and technical education program at Warren County High School in McMinnville, Tenn., in 2017. The technology skills they learn in the class help prepare them for jobs in the area’s booming automotive industry.
What Is Career and Technical Education, Anyway?
Find answers to eight commonly asked questions about career and technical education here.
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Thu., June 11, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
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Expand work-based learning and industry credentials in CTE to connect classroom learning with real careers and prepare students for future success.
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Keaton Turner, a junior at Warren County High School, welds a during an advanced manufacturing class in McMinnville.
Keaton Turner, a junior at Warren County High School, welds a during an advanced manufacturing class in McMinnville, Tenn., in May of 2017. States and districts need to do a better job connecting career-focused academic lessons with industry goals, speakers at a recent Education Commission of the States forum said.
Joe Buglewicz for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness How to Bring More Value to Career-Tech Education Programs
Aligning academic goals to the labor market is critical, according to the Education Commission of the States.
Jennifer Vilcarino, May 6, 2026
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5 min read
Thu., April 30, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
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College & Workforce Readiness Webinar CTE for All: How One School Board Builds Future-Ready Students
Discover how CPSB uses partnerships and high-quality digital resources to build equitable, future-ready CTE pathways for every student.
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College & Workforce Readiness Reports Work-Based Learning in Postsecondary Education: Results of a National Survey
Based on a 2025 survey, this report examines key questions about educator perspectives on work-based learning in postsecondary education.
April 23, 2026
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Download this guide to learn how to support career readiness, credentials, and work-based learning while meeting requirements.
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College & Workforce Readiness Spotlight Spotlight on College and Career Pathways Designed to Serve All Students
CTE is transforming career prep: AI, high-tech training, and real-world learning connect students to in-demand jobs and future-ready skills.
April 1, 2026
Thu., March 12, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
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College & Workforce Readiness Webinar Building for the Future: Igniting Middle Schoolers’ Interest in Skilled Trades & Future-Ready Skills
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As part of the program, the Business students at Donald M. Payne Sr. Tech Campus in Newark, NJ on Feb. 26, 2026m have access to computers with subscriptions to the latest software to help them prepare for the workforce.
Business students at the Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology in Newark, N.J., work in a computer lab on Feb. 25, 2026. A U.S. Department of Education grant was helping students in business and other fields at the school access enrichment programming, college courses, and financial support after graduation. But the department terminated the grant, along with 18 other similar awards across the country, last summer.
Oliver Farshi for Education Week
Education Funding The Trump Admin. Says It Supports Career-Tech. Ed. It Canceled CTE Grants Anyway
Nineteen projects—many in rural areas—lost funding that was helping students prepare for college and careers.
Mark Lieberman & Lauraine Langreo, February 26, 2026
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12 min read
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Abou Sow, the owner of Prince Abou's Butchery in Queens, shows students from George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School how to separate short rib from rib eye at Essex Kitchen in New York, May 21, 2024.
Digital Promise has a new initiative to identify barriers, design solutions, and scale practices around learner-centered career pathways. Abou Sow, the owner of Prince Abou's Butchery in Queens, shows students from George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School how to separate short rib from rib eye at Essex Kitchen in New York, on May 21, 2024.
James Pollard/AP
College & Workforce Readiness Q&A Nonprofit Launches New Career-Readiness Effort, Looks Beyond the 'Linear Path'
Digital Promise has launched an initiative to help create career pathways for students.
Lauraine Langreo, February 23, 2026
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4 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Spotlight Spotlight on Where Learning Meets Opportunity: Connecting Classrooms to Careers Through Real-World Learning
This Spotlight highlights a growing shift toward career-connected learning, which blends academic content with real-world applications.
February 13, 2026
College & Workforce Readiness Spotlight Spotlight on How Schools Can Elevate Their CTE Offerings
CTE is evolving to meet the demands of a high-tech economy by including AI literacy, advanced technical skills, and real-world experience.
February 11, 2026
Adaora Umeh and daughter Weluchu Umeh, a sophomore, learn about a digitized cadaver used by dental students including, Makaylen Martinez, center left, and Katie Pham, right, during an open house at Garland ISD s Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 , in Garland.
Adaora Umeh and daughter Weluchu Umeh, a sophomore, learn about a digitized cadaver used by dental students Makaylen Martinez, center left, and Katie Pham, right, during an open house at a Garland ISD career and technical education center on Feb. 9, 2026, in Garland, Texas. Districts around the country are partnering with colleges and local employers to offer students more learning opportunities connected to future careers.
Angela Piazza/Dallas Morning News via TNS
College & Workforce Readiness Schools Must Prepare for Jobs of the Future, Superintendents Say
How to set up students for success in local workforces is top of mind among superintendents.
Evie Blad, February 10, 2026
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3 min read
Martha Salazar-Zamora, center left, the superintendent of Tomball Independent School District, walks with colleagues on January 13, 2026, in Tomball, Texas.
Tomball ISD Superintendent Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora, center left, walks with colleagues on January 13, 2026, in Tomball, Texas.
Danielle Villasana for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness Leader To Learn From A Superintendent’s Vision Turned an Oil Site Into a Career Launchpad
A Houston-area superintendent turned a bankrupt industrial site into a CTE powerhouse and revenue source for her district.
Arianna Prothero, February 9, 2026
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11 min read