CTE Curriculum Development in Idaho

Montana's Career and Technical Education system serves students across one of the nation's most geographically vast and sparsely populated states. CTE programs operate in local school districts, tribal schools, and community colleges, with a focus on careers that reflect Montana's distinctive economic landscape. The state's CTE offerings emphasize industries central to Montana's economy, including agriculture, natural resources, healthcare, construction, and tourism. Montana's rural character means that many CTE programs operate in small schools where flexibility and creativity are essential to serving students effectively. Montana has worked to expand CTE access through innovative delivery methods, including distance learning and mobile instructional units that bring hands-on training to remote communities. The state's partnerships with tribal colleges and universities also play an important role in providing CTE opportunities to Native American students across Montana's seven reservations.

Oregon's career and technical education system serves approximately 95,000 secondary students through a network of school districts, education service districts, and community college partnerships. The state emphasizes CTE as a critical component of its broader education equity goals, working to ensure that all students have access to rigorous career-connected learning opportunities regardless of their background or geography. Oregon organizes its CTE programs around six career learning areas that encompass the 16 national career clusters. The state's approach emphasizes programs of study that provide students with clear pathways from high school through postsecondary education and into the workforce, with strong articulation agreements between secondary and community college programs. The state has been a leader in integrating work-based learning into CTE programs, with initiatives such as the Oregon Youth Employment Program and partnerships with industry sectors including technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and natural resources. Oregon's CTE programs also benefit from strong connections to the state's robust community college system, which provides postsecondary pathways for CTE completers.

Utah's career and technical education system serves approximately 155,000 secondary students across the state's school districts and charter schools. The state's CTE programs are organized around eight career pathways that align with Utah's economic priorities, including technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and natural resources. Utah has distinguished itself through strong connections between CTE and the state's thriving technology sector, often referred to as the Silicon Slopes corridor. CTE programs in information technology, computer science, and engineering benefit from partnerships with leading technology companies headquartered in the state, providing students with access to internships, mentorships, and cutting-edge equipment. The state's CTE system also benefits from Utah's unique educational governance structure, which integrates secondary and postsecondary CTE under a coordinated framework. This coordination facilitates smooth transitions between high school CTE programs and postsecondary technical education, with strong articulation agreements and concurrent enrollment options available statewide.

Washington's career and technical education system serves approximately 260,000 secondary students through programs offered in school districts, skills centers, and interdistrict cooperatives across the state. The state's CTE programs reflect Washington's diverse economy, which ranges from the technology sector in the Puget Sound region to agriculture in the Columbia Basin and natural resources in rural areas. Washington operates 14 skills centers that provide specialized, hands-on CTE training for students from multiple districts. These regional centers complement programs offered in comprehensive high schools and provide access to advanced technical programs that individual districts could not sustain independently. The state has been a leader in establishing CTE equivalency frameworks, which allow students to earn academic credit through CTE courses that incorporate rigorous academic content. This approach has helped elevate the perceived value of CTE and increased participation among students pursuing both college and career readiness. Washington's strong community and technical college system provides robust postsecondary pathways for CTE completers.

Wyoming's career and technical education system serves approximately 15,000 secondary students across the state's 48 school districts. As the least populous state in the nation, Wyoming's CTE system is designed to maximize program quality and access despite the challenges posed by vast geographic distances and small student populations. Wyoming's CTE programs are aligned with the state's key economic sectors, including energy, agriculture and ranching, healthcare, construction, and tourism. The state's energy sector, encompassing coal, oil, natural gas, and increasingly wind energy, drives significant demand for CTE programs in energy technology, heavy equipment operation, and related fields. The state's CTE system benefits from strong connections with the University of Wyoming and the state's seven community colleges, which provide postsecondary pathways and dual enrollment opportunities for secondary CTE students. Wyoming has also invested in distance learning technologies and mobile CTE labs to extend program access to students in remote communities.