Vision of Colorado Career and Technical Education
Colorado Career & Technical Education (CTE) leverages workforce and education systems so that each learner has quality CTE experiences leading 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.
This course covers these components if you received a letter from the Colorado Dept. of Education that lists either:
- Foundations of Teaching and Learning
- Course 1: Orientation and Assessment of new CTE Teachers/Teaching Strategies
- Course 2: Classroom Management/Creating a Positive Learning Environment/Safety and Liability
- CTE Knowledge
- Course 1: Communication strategies/Career advisement/Facilitating CTE Leadership Activities.
*The Practicum and Portfolio requirements are done within your district.
OR
- Course 1: CTE Philosophy, operation and management
- Course 2: Student organization/Leadership development
CTE in Colorado Online Session Schedule:
- Fall 2024 Offering: August 26-November 18, 2024
- Registration is now closed.
- Spring 2025 Offering: January 21-April 7, 2025
- Registration link will go live here on Jan 6th at 10am.
CTE in Colorado Face to Face Session:
CACTE July 2025 in Loveland – must attend the entire conference
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- Note we do not host this conference, you will need to contact CACTE directly with any conference questions.
CTE Director Training:
CACTA – Feb 2025 in Loveland – more details to come
- The training is a part of the pre-conference, but you will need to attend the entire conference to receive your CTE Director Certificate of Completion
- Please note that we do not host this event, so cannot help with registration questions.
Work-based Learning Credentialing:
- November 13, 2024, 11:ooam – 4:00pm (Live – PWR Conference)
- January 3, 2025, 11:00am – 4:00pm (Virtual)
- Registration for January Course! – will close on December 16, 2024.
- May 29. 2025, 11:00am – 4:o0pm (Virtual)
- Registration will go live here on January 6th at 10am.
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 2018-2019, more than 32,000 students participated in CTE student organizations as state affiliated members.
COLORADO CTE CALENDAR
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Colorado Career Clusters
CTE Facts – 2022/23 Academic Year
POSTSECONDARY – 84,846 enrolled in CTE programs
HIGH SCHOOL – 114,124 enrolled in CTE programs
MIDDLE SCHOOL – 41,160 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
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