Vision of Colorado Career and Technical Education
Colorado CTE delivers proven pathways to lifelong career success!
Mission of Colorado Career and Technical Education
CTE ensures a thriving Colorado economy by providing relevant and rigorous education that is connected, responsive and real.
Colorado Strategic CTE Visioning Process
Colorado CTE recently developed a state strategic vision and plan for career and technical education that considers our unique landscape and opportunities over the next five years. The plan will help us ensure we are providing learners access to quality CTE programs that are aligned to industry demand and lead to high wage, high skill, in-demand employment. As part of that process, we have been hosting opportunities for public and stakeholder feedback around the state on a variety of topics. For more information, please visit our CTE Vision page.
TRAINING
FREE CREDENTIAL COURSEWORK SIGN UP (CTE in Colorado) – You will receive additional information through email with logon procedures about a week after the close of registration. This course covers EDU 250, 251, 253 & 260.
Online Session Schedule:
- Early Summer Class runs May 11-July 13, 2020.
- Course sign up is closed.
- Late Summer Class runs July 20-Sept 14, 2020.
- Fall Class runs September 21-December 14, 2020.
- Signup/Registration will go live August 31 at 10am.
- Spring Class runs January 18-April 5, 2021.
- Signup/Registration will go live January 4 at 10am.
Face to Face Session:
CACTE July 2021 in Loveland, CO
CTE Director Training:
CACTA February 2021 in Loveland, CO
WBL Credentialing:
TBD – Summer 2020
VIDEO: Colorado CTE Overview
VIDEO: Colorado CTE for Students
VIDEO: Colorado CTE for Parents
VIDEO: Colorado CTE for Counselors
Closed captioning available in both Spanish and English for all videos
Overall Goal / Outcome of CTE
To provide quality educational programs emphasizing core academic content, Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness (PWR) competencies, technical skills, and seamless transition to further education or employment and better prepare students, including special populations to meet challenges of the workforce, economic development, and emerging occupations.
CTE Program Types
Colorado CTE programs are divided into six industry sectors: (1) Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy; (2) STEM, Arts, Design & Information Technology; (3) Skilled Trades & Technical Sciences; (4) Health Science, Criminal Justice & Public Safety; (5) Hospitality, Human Services & Education; (6) Business, Marketing & Public Administration.
More than 5,000 community and business leaders serve on advisory committees and councils supporting CTE programs.
Career and Technical Student Organizations
CTSOs help students build leadership skills, promote positive work values, and reinforce the CTE curriculum.
Nine CTE student organizations include: DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, PBL, (SC)2, SkillsUSA, and TSA.
In 2017-2018, more than 32,000 students participated in CTE student organizations as state affiliated members.
COLORADO CTE CALENDAR
Colorado Career Clusters
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Energy
Management & Administration
Marketing
Finance
Government & Public Administration
Hospitality & Tourism
Human Services
Education & Training
Health Sciences
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Architecture & Construction
Manufacturing
STEM
Arts, A/V Technology & Communication
Information Technology
Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness
CTE Facts – 18/19 Academic Year
POSTSECONDARY – 37,076 individual students enrolled in CTE programs
HIGH SCHOOL – 110,265 individual students enrolled in CTE programs
MIDDLE SCHOOL – 35,740 individual students enrolled in CTE programs
To learn more about Colorado CTE, please check out our CTE Fact Sheet!
CTE State Funding
Over the last 40 years, appropriations for the Career Technical Act (formerly the Colorado Vocational Act of 1970) have dropped proportionately to the dramatic increase of the actual cost of CTE programs. In 1971-72, the General Assembly provided just over 58 percent of the actual cost of CTE programs (Actual cost: $11.16 million, state funding: $6.5 million). In 2014-15, the General Assembly provided 25 percent of the actual cost of CTE programs. (Actual cost from FY15 reported expenses: $97million, state funding: $25million).
Strategies for the Future
- Career Advisement & Development
- Instructor Recruitment & Retention
- Partnerships
- Quality Programs
- Work-Based Learning