CTE Curriculum Development in Montana

Idaho's Career Technical Education system is overseen by the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education, an independent state agency that operates alongside the State Board of Education. This dedicated administrative structure reflects the state's strong commitment to CTE as a distinct and valued component of public education. Idaho organizes its CTE programs around six career clusters: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Business and Marketing Education; Engineering and Technology Education; Family and Consumer Sciences; Health Professions and Public Safety; and Skilled and Technical Sciences. Idaho's CTE programs serve students across the state's diverse geography, from the Boise metropolitan area to remote agricultural and timber communities. The state has invested in building strong connections between secondary CTE and postsecondary institutions, including the state's community colleges and technical colleges. The state has been recognized for its employer engagement practices, with industry advisory committees playing a central role in shaping CTE program standards and priorities. Idaho's growing economy, particularly in technology, agriculture, and manufacturing, drives strong demand for CTE graduates.

North Dakota is unique among states in having a standalone Department of Career and Technical Education, reflecting the state's strong commitment to workforce preparation through career-focused education. This independent agency provides dedicated leadership and resources for CTE programs across the state. North Dakota's CTE system serves students in secondary schools, tribal colleges, and postsecondary institutions, with programs designed to meet the workforce demands of the state's evolving economy. The state's energy sector, particularly oil production in the Bakken region, has created significant demand for skilled workers, while agriculture, healthcare, and technology remain important economic pillars. Despite its small population, North Dakota maintains a comprehensive CTE system that provides students with access to diverse career pathways. The state has invested in building strong partnerships between schools and industries, ensuring that CTE programs prepare students for the specific careers available in their communities.

South Dakota's career and technical education system serves approximately 28,000 secondary students through programs offered in school districts and technical institutes across the state. The state's CTE programs are closely aligned with South Dakota's key economic sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, energy, construction, and manufacturing. South Dakota organizes its CTE programs around career clusters and pathways that provide students with clear routes from secondary education through postsecondary training and into the workforce. The state's four technical institutes play a central role in the CTE pipeline, offering advanced training programs that build on secondary CTE foundations. The state has emphasized work-based learning as a critical component of CTE, with programs such as internships, job shadowing, and cooperative education integrated throughout career pathways. South Dakota's strong agricultural economy drives significant enrollment in agriculture education programs, while growing demand in healthcare and technology sectors is expanding CTE offerings in those areas.

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.