Higher Education Commission Welcomes State’s Authority For Career And Technical Education
Commission has oversight of both secondary and postsecondary career and technical education.
As part of House Enrolled Act 1002, Indiana’s authority for both secondary and postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) has joined the Indiana Commission for Higher Education as of July 1, 2023. CTE connects industry, workforce development and education through the development and implementation of relevant career and technical education programs of study that prepare students for high-skill, in-demand careers in fields such as advanced manufacturing, information technology and agriculture.
The Commission now manages the administration of the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century (Perkins V) Act. States have received funding through Perkins since 1984, and last year, Perkins V awarded more than $30 million in funding to Indiana’s 53 secondary CTE Districts, Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University. Secondary CTE programs received over $180 million in programmatic funding from the State of Indiana in 2022, a level of support that’s anticipated to exceed $200 million this upcoming school year. Prior to moving to the Commission, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet oversaw CTE since 2019.
“Career and Technical Education is a crucial way for students to jumpstart earning a college degree while in high school, providing students with a chance to complete up to 30 credit hours – equivalent to a full year of college – before graduation,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery. “CTE is a vitally important part of our education, training and economic development system here in Indiana. It is a pleasure for the CTE team to join the Commission in implementing our broader goals centered around the college-going rate for both youth and adults, postsecondary degree completion and graduate retention.”
Indiana launched Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) in the 2022-23 school year to improve the consistency, quality and intentionality of CTE instruction across Indiana. NLPS offers over 60 programs of study organized into 16 career clusters. Programs are directly aligned to postsecondary programs to give students the opportunity to complete postsecondary credit in high school and earn credentials of value.
During the 2022-23 school year, 228,254 high school students enrolled in at least one funded CTE course, representing nearly 60 percent of all high school students in Indiana. Also, over 34,000 high school seniors from the graduating class of 2022 earned CTE concentrator status. Students graduating with CTE concentrator status must use NLPS courses beginning in the 2024-25 school year. A CTE concentrator is one way for students to meet the postsecondary readiness requirement of Indiana’s Graduation Pathways.
“While student outcomes and their experience in CTE are always our priority, we know that CTE also has many positive ripple effects for our state,” said State Director of Career and Technical Education Anthony Harl. “Companies looking to grow or make new investments in Indiana are increasingly interested in our state’s talent pipeline, particularly in emerging sectors like semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Joining the Commission furthers the essential work of CTE in meeting the current and future needs of employers and achieving economic growth for communities across our state.”
Directors for each of the 53 secondary CTE districts can be found here. General inquiries regarding CTE can be shared with [email protected].