 
|
Top Story
|
 |
| (Pixabay) |
States vary in their approach to college and career readiness indicators, with 42 states using at least one indicator in their accountability systems, according to a report from All4Ed and the Urban Institute. The most common measures for college readiness are Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, while career readiness is often assessed through industry credentials or career and technical education pathways.
|
 | Enter NOCTI's 2026 Video Contest!
Don't miss NOCTI's 2026 video contest! This year's theme, "CTE: Fast Track to the Future!" invites students to show how CTE builds skills, confidence, and real-world experiences that lead to exciting futures. From hands-on learning to high-tech classrooms, show how CTE drives success. The contest is now open! |
|---|
| |
|
|
Secondary CTE
The Rockbridge Innovation Center, formerly the Floyd S. Kay Technical Center, has attracted more students after a $14 million renovation. The center, attached to Rockbridge County High School in Virginia, offers courses in more than 12 disciplines, including a new firefighting program. About 48% of Rockbridge County students earned a career and technical education credential in the past school year, surpassing the state average of 36%.
Ravenswood Middle School in West Virginia has launched the Aerospace/Aviation Exploration Pathway, a specialized program designed for eighth-grade students as part of the state Department of Education's "Discover Your Future" initiative. The hands-on course will introduce students to the fundamentals of flight, aviation safety, weather factors and career pathways within the industry.
|
 | Meet Retail's Best at Shoptalk Fall!
Join our Hosted Meetup at Shoptalk Fall to connect with top retail suppliers in curated, double-opt-in meetings. It's your chance to build powerful partnerships and unlock real business value, fast, focused, and face-to-face in Chicago! Get tickets. |
|---|
| |
|
|
Postsecondary CTE
The Ralph W. Cellon Jr. Institute has opened at Santa Fe College in Florida, expanding programs including welding and HVAC. The institute also offers a new degree in engineering technology and advanced manufacturing with a focus on semiconductors.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has introduced the One Click College Admit program, which offers direct admissions to public universities and community colleges based solely on grade-point average. The initiative eliminates the need for applications, fees, essays and recommendation letters, aiming to make higher education more accessible and equitable.
|
 | Creating a network that drives retail innovation
Retailers must innovate, especially with the rise of AI automation, to meet customer expectations for seamless omnichannel experiences while managing costs. This paper explores the importance of a network foundation to support innovative retail technologies and how fixed wireless access (FWA) offers a cost-effective and flexible alternative to cabled internet connectivity for retail stores. |
|---|
| |
|
|
Play Paths to Power bonus path
|
Yeahhh… gonna need you to finish.
You've come this far. The bonus path is basically the TPS report of quests—but this one's actually fun. New chaos. Quirky riddles. And maybe even some flair. You found the Wizard of Lite, now he joins you for one final quest to truly bring calm to this digital, mystical land. Play Game
|
|
Workforce Training & Trends
Seventy-one percent of Americans are worried that AI could result in the permanent loss of jobs for many workers, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Despite the current low unemployment rate, there is significant anxiety about AI fundamentally changing the job landscape and displacing large numbers of employees across various sectors.
New graduates are struggling to find jobs as the share of unemployed Americans new to the workforce has reached a 37-year high of 13.4%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, reflecting what is seen as companies' reluctance to hire amid economic uncertainty. The overall unemployment rate is 4.2%, but 22- to 27-year-olds in the workforce face a 7.4% unemployment rate, and 25.2% of unemployed workers have been jobless for 27 weeks or longer.
|
 | AI is transforming education. Are you ready?
The future of education is here, and it's powered by AI. We're rethinking everything: learning, leadership, workforce development, and teacher training. It's an exciting time of building on what we have and crafting new strategies. Register today for this essential session to gain fresh insights and ideas for partnering with AI. |
|---|
| |
|
|
ACTE Updates
| Apply now for premier national leadership development opportunity |
The ACTE National Leadership Fellowship Program is designed to empower career and technical education (CTE) professionals by enhancing their leadership skills, offering hands-on experience in policymaking, and supporting their professional growth. The 2026 cohort will run January to December 2026, with fellows receiving a $1,500 stipend, along with complimentary registration for ACTE's CareerTech VISION and National Policy Seminar. Applications are now open through Sept. 15. Learn more.
| Research Roundup: CTE Concentration and Course-taking, Dual Enrollment Partner-ships, Career Navigation Policy |
- An article in the Journal of Career and Technical Education highlighted outcomes of CTE concentrators, and another article in that journal examined how students value and perceive CTE.
- A report from American Student Assistance and Jobs for the Future examined how states are developing career navigation systems.
- A report from the Community College Research Center explored how the characteristics of dual enrollment partnerships in the state of Texas have affected student outcomes.
Read more.
|
| Got this from a friend? Subscribe now and stay in the loop! |
|
 |
|
| |
| The trouble with fiction ... is that it makes too much sense. Reality never makes sense. |
Aldous Huxley,
writer, philosopher |
|
| |
 |
|
|
