A partnership in Boulder, Colo., involving the Boulder Valley School District, the city and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity is addressing affordable housing and a skilled labor shortage by teaching students trades through the construction of modular homes. The initiative, which uses a $13 million factory, recently delivered its first homes to the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park.

Washington County High School in North Carolina recently held a career and technical education showcase called "Shades of Fall," where students demonstrated skills in areas such as foods and nutrition, health science and early childhood education. The event included a National Technical Honor Society induction and various interactive presentations, highlighting the practical applications of CTE programs.

New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley recently visited Albany High School's "Next Gen" barbering program to highlight the economic viability of trade careers. The three-year Career and Technical Education pathway aims to help students obtain their state barbering license before graduation. Mosley received a haircut from a senior during his visit, emphasizing the importance of confidence in young people.

Students at RioTECH, a new hands-on high school for trades in Rio Rancho, N.M., say the experience has transformed their learning. The school, partnered with Central New Mexico Community College, offers programs in automotive, digital media, carpentry and other fields. Principal Kristopher Johnson highlights the school's unique structure, with students taking only two core classes per term, and emphasizes the high level of engagement and attendance.

The Massachusetts Statewide Graduation Council has proposed new high-school graduation requirements, including state end-of-course tests in subjects such as social studies and English language arts. The proposal also includes a rigorous program of study, a capstone or portfolio project, financial literacy training and career planning.

The Department of Education has introduced a new earnings indicator on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which warns students if the colleges they select have graduates earning less than the average high school graduate. First-time undergraduates will see this warning on their FAFSA Submission Summary, with an option to access more detailed earnings data or remove flagged institutions from consideration. The initiative aims to help students make more informed decisions at a critical point in the college selection process, addressing previous gaps in students' awareness of postgraduation outcomes.

Apple has expanded the Apple Manufacturing Academy, which it operates in collaboration with Michigan State University, by introducing online courses for small- and mid-sized businesses across the US. The courses cover advanced manufacturing topics, including automation, predictive maintenance, quality control optimization and machine learning. The academy is part of Apple's $600 billion investment plan aimed at increasing domestic manufacturing.