Career and Technical Education

The PWR of Career and Technical Education (CTE) In Colorado

CDE’s Postsecondary Workforce Readiness team partners with Colorado Community College System (CCCS) to provide support and resources for K-12 CTE programs. Whether or not you have a CTE program in your school, there are helpful resources for work-based learning on the CTE pages to the right.

276,290 students (K-12) are enrolled in CTE programs in 401 high schools
74,776 students are enrolled in 18 community college CTE programs

Expanding pathways from high school to postsecondary opportunities is essential for preparing students for success after high school. CTE programs help students develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be postsecondary and workforce ready.

Quick Links:

Find resources at Colorado CTE

Contact your CTE Program Director

Find national resources
at Advance CTE

Colorado Career Clusters

screenshot of the career clusters model 2022

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The Six Career Clusters Include:

Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy
Engineering, Technology, and Media Arts
Skilled Trades and Technical Sciences
Business, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Finance, and Public Administration
Hospitality, Human Services, and Education
Health Science, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety

Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)

CTSO programs help students build leadership skills, promote positive work values, and reinforce the CTE curriculum.

Some CTSOs across the state are:

DECA: Marketing
FBLA: Future Business Leaders of America
FCCLA: Family, Career and Community Leaders of America
FFA: Colorado Future Farmers of America
HOSA: Future Health Professionals
(SC)2: for Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE) students
SkillsUSA: technical, skilled, and service careers
TSA: Technology Student Association

Click here for CTSO Information

CTE Advisory Committees

In order to prepare students for career success, it’s important that work-based learning (WBL) programs are industry-led. CTE programs are overseen by Advisory Committees with relevant representatives from your local industry partners.

See the Advisory Committee Handbook here

Our Partnership

Career & Technical Education is not a Colorado Department of Education program. The CDE Postsecondary Workforce Readiness team partners closely with our CTE colleagues; feel free to reach out to us if we can help steer you towards the resources and contacts at Colorado CTE.