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Tag: career and technical education

  • From high school to career: 6 CTE trends to track in 2026

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    Key points:

    Without a doubt, career and technical education (CTE) is priceless for high school students wanting to get real-world, hands-on job skills before they graduate and turn their interests into career paths. Increased support for CTE programs at the federal and state levels, coupled with evolving technology and new research-led learning approaches, has placed CTE programs on center stage for 2026. 

    There is growing evidence that CTE functions as an early talent pipeline for employers, not just a preparation program. It is with certainty, employers value CTE experience, actively hire participants, and see partnerships with CTE programs as a way to build a skilled workforce aligned to real business needs. As a result, states and employers are increasingly integrating CTE into broader workforce and talent development strategies. 

    Here are six CTE trends to watch in 2026.

    1. AI literacy becomes a baseline (for entry-level jobs). Practical exercises using AI tools will be essential in pathways like IT, engineering, and manufacturing, but not only those educational focuses.

    2. CTE programs increasingly align with national reindustrialization. Skilled workforce/trades are viable options to improve economic viability. Plus, many high-demand and high-paying careers now prioritize specialized skills, certifications, and hands-on experience over a general academic degree.

    3. Enhanced employability. Today’s companies value durable skills like critical thinking, communication, and collaboration just as much as–or even more than–technical skills. Look for more CTE programs to focus on these skills, and online learning platforms like KnoPro to sharpen these interpersonal and behavioral qualities essential for workplace success.

    4. Alumni trajectories. CTE providers will see an increased value in alumni trajectory studies that track graduates’ success in careers and further education, showing they often have higher graduation rates, better wages, and smooth transitions to work or college programs.

    5. Work-based learning (WBL) expansion. While fewer hiring managers think high school graduates are ready for the workforce. More states are incorporating WBL standards into their graduation requirements. Look for more students to take advantage of comprehensive job shadowing, worksite tours and internships to build skills, social capital, and informed career choices. 

    6. Dual enrollment and industry certifications on the rise. It’s no secret that dual enrollment is experiencing significant growth in American high schools, where students are earning college credits and industry-recognized credentials to accelerate their path to the workforce or a degree. Also, look for more students earning industry certifications to gain specialized skills, improve employability, and potentially increase wages and lower college debt.

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    Dirk Butler, NAF

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  • How CTE inspires long and fulfilling careers

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    This post originally published on iCEV’s blog, and is republished here with permission.

    A career-centered education built on real experience

    One of the most transformative aspects of Career and Technical Education is how it connects learning to real life. When students understand that what they’re learning is preparing them for long and fulfilling careers, they engage more deeply. They build confidence, competence, and the practical skills employers seek in today’s competitive economy.

    I’ve seen that transformation firsthand, both as a teacher and someone who spent two decades outside the classroom as a financial analyst working with entrepreneurs. I began teaching Agricultural Science in 1987, but stepped away for 20 years to gain real-world experience in banking and finance. When I returned to teaching, I brought those experiences with me, and they changed the way I taught.

    Financial literacy in my Ag classes was not just another chapter in the curriculum–it became a bridge between the classroom and the real world. Students were not just completing assignments; they were developing skills that would serve them for life. And they were thriving. At Rio Rico High School in Arizona, we embed financial education directly into our Ag III and Ag IV courses. Students not only gain technical knowledge but also earn the Arizona Department of Education’s Personal Finance Diploma seal. I set a clear goal: students must complete their certifications by March of their senior year. Last year, 22 students achieved a 100% pass rate.

    Those aren’t just numbers. They’re students walking into the world with credentials, confidence, and direction. That’s the kind of outcome only CTE can deliver at scale.

    This is where curriculum systems designed around authentic, career-focused content make all the difference. With the right structure and tools, educators can consistently deliver high-impact instruction that leads to meaningful, measurable outcomes.

    CTE tools that work

    Like many teachers, I had to adapt quickly when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I transitioned to remote instruction with document cameras, media screens, and Google Classroom. That’s when I found iCEV. I started with a 30-day free trial, and thanks to the support of their team, I was up and running fast. 

    iCEV became the adjustable wrench in my toolbox: versatile, reliable, and used every single day. It gave me structure without sacrificing flexibility. Students could access content independently, track their progress, and clearly see how their learning connected to real-world careers.

    But the most powerful lesson I have learned in CTE has nothing to do with tech or platforms. It is about trust. My advice to any educator getting started with CTE? Don’t start small. Set the bar high. Trust your students. They will rise. And when they do, you’ll see how capable they truly are.

    From classroom to career: The CTE trajectory

    CTE offers something few other educational pathways can match: a direct, skills-based progression from classroom learning to career readiness. The bridge is built through internships, industry partnerships, and work-based learning: components that do more than check a box. They shape students into adaptable, resilient professionals.

    In my program, students leave with more than knowledge. They leave with confidence, credentials, and a clear vision for their future. That’s what makes CTE different. We’re not preparing students for the next test. We’re preparing them for the next chapter of their lives.

    These opportunities give students a competitive edge. They introduce them to workplace dynamics, reinforce classroom instruction, and open doors to mentorship and advancement. They make learning feel relevant and empowering.

    As explored in the broader discussion on why the world needs CTE, the long-term impact of CTE extends far beyond individual outcomes. It supports economic mobility, fills critical workforce gaps, and ensures that learners are equipped not only for their first job, but for the evolution of work across their lifetimes.

    CTE educators as champions of opportunity

    Behind every successful student story is an educator or counselor who believed in their potential and provided the right support at the right time. As CTE educators, we’re not just instructors; we are workforce architects, building pipelines from education to employment with skill and heart.

    We guide students through certifications, licenses, career clusters, and postsecondary options. We introduce students to nontraditional career opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed, and we ensure each learner is on a path that fits their strengths and aspirations.

    To sustain this level of mentorship and innovation, educators need access to tools that align with both classroom needs and evolving industry trends. High-quality guides provide frameworks for instruction, career planning, and student engagement, allowing us to focus on what matters most: helping every student achieve their full potential.

    Local roots, national impact

    When we talk about long and fulfilling careers, we’re also talking about the bigger picture:  stronger local economies, thriving communities, and a workforce that’s built to last.

    CTE plays a vital role at every level. It prepares students for in-demand careers that support their families, power small businesses, and fill national workforce gaps. States that invest in high-quality CTE programs consistently see the return: lower dropout rates, higher postsecondary enrollment, and greater job placement success.

    But the impact goes beyond metrics. When one student earns a certification, that success ripples outward—it lifts families, grows businesses, and builds stronger communities.

    CTE isn’t just about preparing students for jobs. It’s about giving them purpose. And when we invest in that purpose, we invest in long-term progress.

    Empowering the next generation with the right tools

    Access matters. The best ideas and strategies won’t create impact unless they are available, affordable, and actionable for the educators who need them. That’s why it’s essential for schools to explore resources that can strengthen their existing programs and help them grow.

    A free trial offers schools a way to explore these solutions without risk—experiencing firsthand how career-centered education can fit into their unique context. For those seeking deeper insights, a live demo can walk teams through the full potential of a platform built to support student success from day one.

    When programs are equipped with the right tools, they can exceed minimum standards. They can transform the educational experience into a launchpad for lifelong achievement.

    CTE is more than a pathway. It is a movement driven by student passion, educator commitment, and a collective belief in the value of hard work and practical knowledge. Every certification earned, every skill mastered, and every student empowered brings us closer to a future built on long and fulfilling careers for everyone.

    For more news on career readiness, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching hub.

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    Dr. Richard McPherson, Ed.D.

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  • AI, CTE are key to preparing students for future careers

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    This press release originally appeared online.

    Key points:

    Educators are embracing AI and career and technical education (CTE) as keys to preparing students for their future after high school, according to the 2025 Savvas Educator Index from K-12 learning solutions provider Savvas Learning Company.

    The annual national survey of K-12 teachers and administrators offers a pulse check on what educators see as the most pressing challenges and promising solutions in U.S. education this coming school year and beyond.

    “Educators are embracing new possibilities for student success and are eager for innovative tools that empower more effective, relevant learning experiences,” said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. “This year’s Savvas Educator Index highlights a collective demand for solutions that meet the moment, including AI and CTE, without compromising durable, essential skills like critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.”

    AI in classrooms? Only if it builds real-world skills

    Educators are cautiously optimistic about AI, with 66 percent planning to increase AI use in the 2025-26 school year–up from 57 percent last year. Of those who teach or oversee high school, more than half (56 percent) believe understanding AI is “very” or “extremely” important for students’ future success.

    But that optimism is tempered by concern.

    • Only 5 percent of educators are confident that their students know how to use AI responsibly and critically.
    • The majority (70 percent) of educators say they have received no professional development to support students in learning to use AI for schoolwork.
    • Nearly half (43 percent) of all educators believe current AI use is negatively impacting students’ development of durable skills like communication and critical thinking. This increases to 51 percent among grade 6-8 teachers and 68 percent among high school teachers.

    The disparity between educators’ optimism around implementation and concern around students’ durable skills sends a clear signal: educators want AI tools that come with guardrails, guidance for implementation, and controls meant to develop those skills, not create shortcuts.

    CTE Is the leading model for future workforce readiness

    While traditional academic routes like Advanced Placement (AP) courses have fallen behind in educator favor, CTE is the clear frontrunner when it comes to preparing students for life beyond high school, according to the survey.

    • More than double the number of educators selected CTE (63 percent) as the top program to best prepare students for success after high school compared to those who selected AP courses (26 percent).
    • Among educators who believe CTE programs help students be successful after high school, 87 percent identified job-ready skills and technical training and 79 percent identified early exposure to career pathways and interests as the key benefits students gain from participating in CTE programs while in high school.
    • Among teachers who believe CTE programs help students be successful after high school, 77 percent said CTE enhances students’ employability after high school; that number jumps to 79 percent among administrators.

    Dual enrollment is a critical bridge to success

    As part of the broader shift toward workforce readiness, the survey found dual enrollment programs are also powerful tools to help students prepare for college and career pathways. Among high school educators whose schools offer these courses, the benefits are clear and compelling.

    • The opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school was cited by 88 percent of educators as a major advantage.
    • Reduced tuition costs followed closely behind as a major advantage at 75 percent, and a smoother transition to postsecondary education at 70 percent, underscoring dual enrollment’s role in making higher education more affordable and accessible.

    Beyond cost savings, educators emphasized the importance of early exposure to college-level work and future career pathways, aligning with a national push to introduce students to postsecondary options earlier in their academic journeys.

    Without relevance, students struggle to stay motivated

    Educators are also sounding the alarm on a persistent and systemic issue: student motivation.

    • Three-fourths of educators surveyed (75 percent) cited lack of motivation as a leading challenge for the coming school year, with half of those respondents saying it is the top challenge students face.
    • Sixty-four percent of high school educators said motivation is a major barrier to earning a living wage after high school, and 45 percent said it hinders students’ college success.

    These concerns further reinforce the demand for learning that feels connected to students’ lives and futures, and educators overwhelmingly point to intentional use of AI-powered tools and CTE offerings as ways to deliver student success beyond their K-12 education.

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    ESchool Media Contributors

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  • Savvas Learning Company Acquires Pointful Education

    Savvas Learning Company Acquires Pointful Education

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    PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY —  Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, today announced the acquisition of Pointful Education, a provider of innovative, online career and technical education (CTE) courses that prepare students with the industry knowledge and skills needed for future careers.

    Specializing in career-focused courses and certification exam preparation for middle and high school students, Pointful Education offers a wide range of virtual and blended learning solutions that engage students in career exploration and prepare them for the workforce. Its robust catalog features 55 courses that are aligned with nationally recognized career clusters. The courses offer engaging instructional design packed with interactives, videos, projects, language translations, and text-to-speech functionality.

    The acquisition of Pointful Education follows news in February of Savvas Learning Company’s strategic acquisition of Outlier, which offers high-quality, online college-level courses that enable high school students to earn dual credit while never having to leave their school building. Outlier by Savvas provides immersive, cinematically-produced courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences taught by world-class, charismatic instructors from NASA, MIT, Harvard, Yale, and other top institutions.

    “There’s a growing demand in the education marketplace to provide secondary students with multiple pathways for college and career learning that ignite a passion for career exploration,” said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. “In addition to providing students an opportunity for college learning with our Outlier offerings, the acquisition of Pointful Education allows us to provide the millions of secondary students we serve with a broader array of high-quality technical, career-focused courses for high-demand, high-skills, and high-paying careers.”

    From CTE courses to exam preparation, Pointful Education courses give students the edge they need to be successful in their field of choice and master career-readiness skills training. Its catalog of elective and career-focused digital courseware includes titles such as: Adobe InDesign; Agriscience; Career Exploration in Healthcare; Construction: Fundamentals and Careers; Cybersecurity; Drones: Remote Pilot; Early Childhood Education; Robotics: Applications & Careers; and Social Media Business Marketing. Nearly half of Pointful Education courses are directly aligned to an industry-recognized certification exam, so when students are done with the course they are prepared to take the exam.

    “We built our courses to give students the tools they need to develop the job-specific knowledge and skills for success in their future careers,” said Steve Southwick, CEO and founder of Pointful Education. “We’re so excited to join Savvas and be able to accelerate the development of new, high-quality career-focused courses that help schools support and expand their CTE pathways and grow their program offerings.”

    ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY

    At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design engaging, next-generation K-12 learning solutions that give all students the best opportunity to succeed. Our award-winning, high-quality instructional materials span every grade level and discipline, from evidence-based, standards-aligned core curricula and supplemental and intervention programs to state-of-the-art assessment tools and the industry’s most well-rounded portfolio of college- and career-readiness solutions — all designed to meet the needs of every learner. Savvas products are used by millions of students and educators in more than 90 percent of the 13,000+ public school districts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as globally in more than 125 countries. To learn more, visit Savvas Learning Company. Savvas Learning Company’s products are also available for sale in Canada through its subsidiary, Rubicon.

    eSchool News Staff
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    ESchool News Staff

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  • Florida bill that would give construction companies more child laborers advances with Democratic support

    Florida bill that would give construction companies more child laborers advances with Democratic support

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    click to enlarge

    image via The Florida Channel

    Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, sponsor of Florida SB 460

    Florida Democrats have joined Republican state lawmakers in supporting a bill that would weaken the state’s child labor protections, relying on changes made by the Republican bill sponsor to water it down. The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Education unanimously approved the bill Thursday in a 7–0 vote by five Republicans and two Democrats.

    While Democrats still don’t agree with Republicans on abortion rights or rights for transgender Floridians, state lawmakers appear to have found common ground on conceding to deep-pocketed industry groups that want to help employers in the construction industry fill labor shortages.

    Senate Bill 460, sponsored by first-term Sen. Corey Simon, would amend Florida law to explicitly allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work jobs on residential construction sites that are currently prohibited for minors due to health and safety concerns.

    Currently, minors are only allowed to be employed in what the government defines as “hazardous” jobs if they are doing so as part of a federally approved apprentice or student learner program, which are subject to strict regulations and supervisory requirements. Federal law also prohibits minors from working “on or about a roof,” although office or sales work for construction companies is permissible.

    The Republican senator’s proposal, reflecting a trend of similar proposals across the country, is folded into a broader bill written by lobbyists for the construction and home builders industries that would otherwise enhance career and technical education opportunities in Florida’s public school system (something no one is opposed to).

    Since the bill was first filed in November, Simon has amended the legislation several times, after facing public pressure, specifically to clarify that minors would not be able to work on roofs, scaffolding or superstructures more than six feet off the ground, nor work on commercial construction sites.

    Simon has also clarified in the bill that no minor would be permitted to work in violation of any federal labor law, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (which sets a federal baseline for child labor standards) or any rules from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

    Other safeguards, such as requiring older teens to first obtain OSHA-10 certification and to work under the supervision of an adult 21 or older who has at least two years’ experience in the industry, are also included in the legislation.

    According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, there is only one direct supervisor on construction and extraction sites in Florida for every seven workers, as it is. Behind agriculture, construction is the deadliest industry for youth, who are more likely to be injured on the job compared to their older counterparts.

    Opponents have pointed out that children may also be less likely to speak up if their boss isn’t paying them what they’re owed, or works them overtime without extra pay. This kind of behavior — wage theft — is common in the construction industry, and Florida has no meaningful mechanism  for combating it.

    Florida Sen. Tracie Davis, a Democrat, pleaded with Sen. Simon on Thursday to better explain how safe and prudent his legislation really is, as Davis continues to hear concerns from labor and social advocacy groups in opposition to it.

    “I just want the sponsor of the bill to stress how we are not talking about a 16- or 17-year-old going up on a roof [anymore],” said Davis. “Enforcement is very important.”

    Davis has a point. Enforcement of child labor law is, in fact, important. And there’s very little capacity for it in this state already.

    According to the Department of Business and Professional Regulations, there are just seven state personnel dedicated to enforcing Florida’s child labor law across the state, tasked with covering thousands of businesses.

    Both the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and OSHA can also investigate alleged violations of regulations on hazardous work and child labor. But enforcement personnel from those agencies are also in limited supply. There were just about 75 OSHA employees tasked with monitoring Florida businesses as of 2021, and the WHD division has said it is operating with “historically low staffing levels.” The latter has been flat-funded by U.S. Congress for years.

    Florida relies on federal OSHA regulators to conduct workplace inspections and investigate complaints, and has done so since state lawmakers and then-Gov. Jeb Bush abolished the state Department of Labor and Economic Security in 2002.

    Dr. Rich Templin, lobbyist for the Florida AFL-CIO, told state lawmakers on Thursday, “There’s so few OSHA investigators in the state of Florida, it would take hundreds of years to investigate all job sites.” The AFL-CIO estimated in 2022 that, with the agency’s current staffing levels, it would take OSHA over 200 years to conduct inspections at the millions of workplaces under its jurisdiction even once.

    Theresa King, president of the Florida Building and Construction Trades Council, told lawmakers that although her organization supports the idea of drawing more young people into the construction industry, enforcement of safety standards for youth remains a concern. “We would like to see a few more safety provisions in the bill,” said King. “I’m a construction worker, and I know how it is out there.”

    Construction happens to be one of the most common industries in which child labor violations occur, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and failing to follow the law can have devastating, long-term consequences for youth.

    At best, when safety guidelines aren’t followed, a child may be injured on the job. At worst, they may suffer a permanent, debilitating injury or even die in the interest of learning a new trade or supporting their family’s ability to eat or pay rent.

    Sen. Keith Perry, who owns a roofing company in Alachua County, conceded that there are already employers who violate federal labor law (he would know), but argued that this bill won’t change that in any meaningful way.

    “I started roofing when I was 16 years old. I started my business when I was 17 years old — which was illegal, is still illegal, and will be illegal under this bill,” said Perry, in his own interesting way of defending the legislation. “People who break the law are not going to follow the law anyway, whether this bill is passed or not.”

    “People who break the law are not going to follow the law anyway, whether this bill is passed or not.”

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    The bill’s primary cheerleaders — including the Florida Home Builders Association and Associated Builders and Contractors — argue that the bill will help fill gaps in Florida’s school system, which doesn’t offer construction courses for teens (in a safe environment) in all Florida counties. Supporters also point to current and looming labor shortages in the industry as more older workers retire to emphasize the need for drawing more young people into the trades.

    “More than 50% of the industry is 50 years of age or older and retiring, and we are just uniformly working to expose students in school to career and technical education opportunities,” said Carol Bowen, lobbyist for the ABC of Florida, during a committee hearing for the House version of the bill, HB 917.

    Sen. Simon, who was fed draft language for the Senate bill by Bowen in October, has defended his legislation by gaslighting the bill’s critics, arguing that they are unnecessarily causing “confusion” that “doesn’t help our kids.”

    “These are young people that are looking for an opportunity, and looking to find an interest that they can turn into a really successful career,” Simon said in closing.

    Sen. Shevrin Jones, the only other Democrat on the Senate panel with Davis, voted with his colleagues in favor of moving the legislation forward without comment. The bill has also (tellingly) garnered the support of Americans for Prosperity, aka the “union-hating Koch brothers’ lobbying arm.”

    The House version of the bill, HB 917, has similarly cleared its first two committees with support from some Democrats. The legislation would need support from both the full House and Senate in order to pass.

    Meanwhile, the Republican-dominated legislature is also trying to extend the number of hours older teens can work, make it even harder for adults to access unemployment benefits, and prohibit local governments from requiring their contractors to provide cooling measures like water and shade to employees who work outdoors.

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    McKenna Schueler

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  • Echo Healthcare Releases NEW Division – Echo Education Technology

    Echo Healthcare Releases NEW Division – Echo Education Technology

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jan 3, 2023


    SARASOTA, Fla., January 3, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Echo Healthcare, Inc., a global leader in high-reality simulation and a worldwide leader in immersive spaces and educational software, announced today the launch of a new division within the company. Echo Education Technology will proudly serve all primary, secondary, HOSA, STEM and Career and Technical Education institutions at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

    As healthcare simulation and interactive learning are being introduced rapidly in early education, Echo Healthcare recognized the need to develop a division with dedicated personnel to better serve these customers. The strategy behind the new division is a distinctively different approach to the market than what the industry is seeing from competitors and one that is expected to provide a superior product offering and exceptional customer service. The introduction of Echo Education Technology allows Echo Healthcare to be on the forefront of providing innovative products and services catered to early childhood education, an important market segment to the overall organization.

    “Students today are growing up in technology-rich homes and have a passion for learning with technology early on. They are also identifying career paths and taking college credited courses in middle school and high school. Our products continue to evolve to allow students to engage in the educational content being delivered to them in a hands-on way so the information is retained long-term. At the same time, our products provide educators with a realistic and non-traditional approach to delivering educational content in a way that students will understand it and be excited to learn!” says Kevin King, CEO of Echo Healthcare and Echo Education Technology.

    Echo Education Technology proudly offers medical simulation products to include highly realistic adult, pediatric and infant medical training manikins, EchoMasks and SecondSkin to enhance the realism of existing manikins and simulated patient monitors to be used by health sciences, CTE and STEM programs. Immersive Interactive is a fully interactive system which transforms a single classroom or room into thousands of engaging virtual learning environments, complete with sounds and smells to mimic that real-life environment. The walls are touch-sensor so the students can engage with the content and environment being delivered to them and take interactive quizzes directly from their immersive room.

    About Echo Education Technology

    Echo Healthcare was founded in 2018 by a group of passionate simulation experts whose mission is to improve patient outcomes and save lives through innovation, education and simulation technologies. Echo Education Technology, a division of Echo Healthcare’s, mission is to redefine how teaching is being delivered in classrooms all over the world through innovation, education and technology.  

    Source: Echo Healthcare

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