CTE Curriculum Development in Wyoming

Colorado's Career and Technical Education system is administered through the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), which provides oversight and support for CTE programs at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. The state organizes CTE around career clusters and pathways that reflect Colorado's dynamic and diversified economy, with particular strength in technology, aerospace, energy, and outdoor recreation industries. Colorado's CTE model emphasizes concurrent enrollment, allowing high school students to earn college credits while completing CTE courses. This approach has driven strong participation rates and creates efficient pathways from secondary education to postsecondary credentials and degrees. The state has also been a pioneer in developing CTE program quality indicators and using data-driven approaches to evaluate and improve CTE offerings. Colorado's employer engagement model brings industry partners directly into program design and assessment, ensuring that CTE graduates are prepared for the state's competitive job market.

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.

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.

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.

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.