As of early February 2023, the Education Commission of the States has reported that at least 19 governors have mentioned CTE in their State of the State addresses. Additionally, 14 governors have addressed the importance of aligning postsecondary education with workforce development.
The following list contains information about CTE proposals across different states, including states helmed by Republicans and those led by Democrats:
- Tennessee’s Gov. Bill Lee let the people of the state know of his intention to complete the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) Master Plan, which would construct six new colleges, renovate 16 existing ones and replace seven facilities. He also proposed a $1 billion investment in technical colleges, promoted the expansion of CTE opportunities in K-12 schools, and highlighted a 90% job attainment rate by TCAT graduates.
- Missouri celebrated the creation of 20,000 new apprenticeships three years ahead of schedule, as announced by Gov. Mike Parson, who also highlighted Missouri’s ranking as third in the country for apprenticeship opportunities and described a $3 million investment to continue growing the program in fields such as IT, public health and safety, education and others. The governor also proposed investing an additional $500,000 in Jobs for America’s Graduates to help high school students further their education or step into the workforce and $4 million for Certified Nursing Assistant training.
- Gov. Greg Gianforte of Montana highlighted the 2021 creation of the Montana Trades Education Credit, which has helped build a highly skilled workforce in the state; celebrated the addition of 1,000 apprenticeships in 2022 through the Registered Apprenticeship Program; and expressed continuing support of work-based learning opportunities for high school students. Additionally, Gianforte proposed growing the state’s health care workforce through legislation that aims to join the APRN Compact promoting multistate licensing for advanced practice registered nurses and to improve professional and occupational licensing.
- Gov. Joe Lombardo of Nevada touted career and technical academies and CTE programs as venues for increasing the pipeline of qualified teachers.
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked for continued funding for apprenticeships and proposed lowering the age of the Michigan Reconnect community college scholarship program from 25 to 21, while noting that 113,000 residents of the state had already been accepted into the Reconnect program. She also reiterated the state’s goal of 60 by 30, which means 60% of residents earning a degree or certificate by 2030.
- Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado noted the state’s intention to increase career-connected learning access for high school students. He also celebrated the creation of Care Forward Colorado to provide free education at community and technical colleges for students interested in health care careers and proposed expanding Care Forward Colorado to include preparation for other in-demand fields like construction, firefighting, law enforcement and early childhood education.
- South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster proposed investing a further $78 million in lottery funds for the expansion of Workforce Scholarships for the Future through the state’s technical college system and touted its success in helping 10,000 students obtain industry credentials.
- Kentucky’s Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted a $245 million investment throughout the past two budgets that went to renovating and rebuilding CTE centers in high schools across the state.
In summary, the outlook for CTE looks bright across the country, with this issue being one of the biggest bipartisan areas of agreement. According to a study conducted by Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Andy Smarick and reported on in The 74, in the 36 gubernatorial races of 2022, there were six education issues of consensus between Democrats and Republicans. Out of these six issues, expanding CTE was tied as number one with 30 candidates or 42% declaring their support.
For more information on the state-by-state outlook of CTE across the country, check out the recently published 2022 State Policies Impacting CTE: Year In Review report.
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