CTE Curriculum Development in Illinois

Indiana has established one of the Midwest's most structured and industry-aligned CTE systems, offering programs through comprehensive high schools, career and technical education centers, and a strong network of Ivy Tech Community College campuses. The state organizes its CTE programs around career clusters and defined pathways that map directly to Indiana's high-demand industries, including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, and healthcare. Indiana's CTE model is distinguished by its emphasis on employer-driven program design. The state's Next Level Programs of Study initiative provides detailed frameworks that connect secondary coursework to postsecondary credentials and career entry points, with program standards validated by Indiana-based employers. This approach ensures that CTE graduates are equipped with the specific skills that Hoosier employers need. The state has also invested in expanding its career scholarship and certification programs, providing financial incentives for students who complete approved CTE pathways and earn industry-recognized credentials. Indiana's Graduation Pathways model integrates CTE completion as one of the primary routes to earning a high school diploma.

Iowa's Career and Technical Education system is organized through a strong partnership between the Iowa Department of Education and the state's 15 community college regions, which serve as the primary delivery mechanism for both secondary and postsecondary CTE. This regional model ensures that CTE programming is connected to local labor market needs while maintaining statewide quality standards. The state organizes its CTE programs around six service areas that correspond to broad career fields: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Business, Finance, Marketing and Management; Health Science; Human Services; Applied Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing; and Information Solutions. Iowa's CTE system is deeply connected to the state's economic strengths in agriculture, advanced manufacturing, insurance and financial services, and renewable energy. Iowa has been a leader in the Midwest in developing secondary-postsecondary CTE partnerships, with extensive concurrent enrollment and articulation agreements that allow high school students to earn college credits in CTE courses. The state's Regional Planning Partnership model brings together secondary schools, community colleges, employers, and economic development organizations to plan and coordinate CTE programming.

Michigan's Career and Technical Education system is deeply intertwined with the state's industrial heritage and evolving economic landscape. As a state historically defined by advanced manufacturing and the automotive industry, Michigan has developed CTE programs that reflect both its traditional strengths and emerging sectors like mobility technology, cybersecurity, and clean energy. The state delivers CTE through a combination of local school districts, career technical education centers, and intermediate school districts that serve regional communities. Michigan's CTE system serves students at both the secondary and postsecondary levels, with strong articulation pathways connecting high school programs to community colleges and universities. Michigan has been proactive in modernizing its CTE offerings, launching initiatives like the Michigan Career Pathways Alliance to strengthen connections between education and industry. The state's Going PRO campaign has helped elevate the perception of skilled trades and technical careers, addressing workforce shortages in critical sectors.

Missouri's Career and Technical Education system is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the Midwest, serving students through a network of area career centers, local school districts, and community colleges. The state has a strong tradition of career education that emphasizes preparing students for both immediate employment and postsecondary education. The state organizes CTE around 16 career clusters and offers a wide range of programs that reflect Missouri's diverse economy. From agriculture in rural areas to advanced manufacturing in the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan regions, CTE programs are tailored to meet the workforce needs of local communities. Missouri has been particularly effective in developing regional partnerships between schools, businesses, and higher education institutions. The state's area career centers serve as hubs for CTE instruction, bringing together students from multiple school districts to access specialized programs and state-of-the-art equipment.

Wisconsin's career and technical education system serves approximately 195,000 secondary students through programs offered in school districts across the state. Wisconsin's CTE programs are organized around six career clusters that encompass the 16 national career clusters, with a strong emphasis on manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and information technology. Wisconsin's CTE system is distinctive for its deep integration with the state's renowned technical college system, which includes 16 technical colleges serving all regions of the state. These institutions provide seamless postsecondary pathways for CTE completers and offer extensive dual enrollment and transcripted credit opportunities that allow high school students to earn college credit through CTE courses. The state's Academies of Excellence and Youth Apprenticeship programs are national models for career-connected learning. Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship program, one of the most extensive in the nation, places thousands of students annually in paid work-based learning experiences with local employers, combining classroom instruction with hands-on industry training.