State Approaches to Secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Secondary CTE programs help students develop technical, academic and workforce skills that can be applied to employment or additional postsecondary education. As demands in workforce needs shift in favor of employees with practical knowledge and skills, it is important that state policies in this area provide students with pathways from high school that lead to employment and education.

This 50-State Comparison provides an overview of secondary CTE policies and activities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to provide a comprehensive resource on states’ CTE systems. It focuses on state-level policies and plans impacting CTE on a range of topics, including its director agencies, funding, program approval, teacher certification, diplomas, dual enrollment and federal measures for programs. As shown in the comparison, it is impacted by K-12, postsecondary and workforce policies. This resource does not include information on career and technical activity at the postsecondary level.

Key Takeaways

• At least 38 states plus the District of Columbia house their CTE director within their K-12 education system.
• The most common approach to secondary CTE funding is student-based funding, used by at least 28 states.
• Over 20 states offer a CTE diploma or CTE diploma endorsement.
• At least 43 states allow students to take CTE courses through state dual and concurrent enrollment to earn high school and postsecondary credit.
• Five states have selected more than one Perkins V measure to indicate secondary CTE program quality. The most frequent choice with at least 25 states and the District of Columbia is work-based learning participation.
• At least 31 states have a college and career readiness indicator that includes CTE coursework or work-based learning.

View a specific state's approach by going to the individual state profiles page.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2023
• Organizational Author(s): Education Commission of the States
• Posted by: Career Pathways TA
• Posted in: Career Pathways