Topic
Follow the latest career & technical education developments across US K-12 education. Career and technical education pathways, credentials and workforce links.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 13 career & technical education stories over the last 30 days, across 8 states and 9 organizations. The most active states are Florida, Kansas and Connecticut.
The state of Kansas has received $4.51 million in funding to support the expansion of apprenticeship programs for teachers preparing to work in special education.
A five-year federal award starting in October 2026 will help Connecticut expand paid apprenticeships for aspiring special education teachers and develop early intervention training pathways.
House members returned to their districts for a work period through early November after passing a measure extending federal funding through Dec. 11. The Senate remains scheduled to meet next week.
A federal grant worth $8.4 million will support Kansas' educator workforce pipeline, with the funding intended to strengthen the state's supply of educators.
Indiana Gov. Braun visited Bloomfield Middle and High School to observe its cybersecurity pathway, described as the first of its kind in the United States.
LCPS Expands Career Pathways with New Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Florida announced that Workforce Pell Grant funding is beginning to support short-duration training programs focused on careers, according to the state Department of Education.
Jessica Howard, who teaches business and computer science at Lone Tree, was selected from nine regional finalists for the statewide honor. She brings industry experience to career-connected learning.
Mililani students will gain hands-on manufacturing training through a new MEERA lab, part of a $1.75 million statewide investment that also supports programs at six O‘ahu middle schools.
A $6.6 million grant will support the Florida Department of Education in increasing opportunities for students in the state to gain experience through work-based learning.
Congress passed and President Trump signed a stopgap spending measure that keeps Perkins V career and technical education funding at current levels through December 11.
Missouri residents will get no-cost access to Google Career Certificates and online AI courses. Educators, students and staff will also receive access to AI tools, with adoption left to schools.
The Florida Department of Education is taking action against commercial driver’s license training providers in the state following a federal enforcement action.
Advance CTE is coaching Rhode Island and Maryland on expanding access to career pathways, with student participation in shaping programs and policies embedded in the work.
Pennsylvania announced $3.5 million in PAsmart grants to 17 organizations to broaden career pathways in advanced manufacturing, construction, digital technology and energy for learners statewide.
A new NASBE analysis identifies principal preparation, mentoring and regulatory flexibility as state policy tools to support high schools offering student-centered pathways to college and careers.
The state awarded $14.6 million to support the expansion of preapprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities in Florida, according to the education department.
business and computer science teacher
Governor
States are funding educator recruitment and preparation and changing certification pathways: Kansas received an $8.4 million federal educator-pipeline grant, while Illinois allocated $15 million for recruitment and retention in 100 districts accounting for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies. Pennsylvania joined the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to reduce certification barriers for eligible out-of-state teachers, and Connecticut opened registration for a free six-week paraeducator preparation academy. Teacher recognition programs also progressed from regional selections to finalists and statewide winners in Missouri and Iowa, while Colorado announced finalists and Hawaii, Kansas, Indiana, New York and Florida named 2027 Teachers of the Year.
States are expanding career pathways and hands-on learning through grants, new facilities and work placements, including apprenticeships and work-based learning in Florida, paid AI internships in Massachusetts and a manufacturing lab at Mililani High School in Hawaii. Pennsylvania awarded $3.5 million to broaden career pathways, while Mississippi launched a statewide initiative connecting classroom lessons with college and careers for the 2026–27 school year. Rhode Island and Maryland are working with Advance CTE to expand pathway access with student participation in program and policy design. At the federal level, a stopgap spending measure maintained Perkins V career and technical education funding at current levels through December 11.
Special education services, IEPs, disability supports and related funding.
Recent grant announcements in Kansas, Florida, Connecticut and Colorado fund educator recruitment pathways, career training, early literacy and school meals. Kansas received $8.4 million in federal funding to strengthen its educator pipeline, while Florida announced the start of Workforce Pell Grant funding for short-term, career-focused training. Connecticut’s five-year, $10 million federal grant will expand small-group reading interventions and educator coaching across 75 elementary schools serving K–3 students with significant reading difficulties. Colorado announced $23.8 million in two noncompetitive grants to expand local food purchasing and scratch cooking in schools and raise nutrition workers’ pay.
School funding developments include increased state allocations in Illinois and continued federal career and technical education funding at current levels. Illinois’s fiscal 2027 evidence-based funding grew by $350 million to $9.3 billion, with every district receiving more than last year, while a federal stopgap measure extended Perkins V funding through December 11. Kansas received an $8.4 million federal grant to strengthen its educator pipeline. In Massachusetts, Gov. Healey appointed western Massachusetts K–12 education and universal preschool leaders to the Foundation Budget Review Commission.
School cybersecurity efforts in these stories span student career pathways, district privacy practices and state enforcement. In Texas, Northside ISD became the state’s 12th school system to earn CoSN’s Trusted Learning Environment Seal, while Humble ISD earned four Mini Seals; Ohio’s Delaware Area Career Center earned its third Mini Seal. New York’s education department imposed penalties on a file scanning service over a data breach. In Indiana, Gov. Braun visited Bloomfield Middle and High School to observe a cybersecurity pathway described as the first of its kind in the United States.
Based on: Kansas receives $4.51 million to expand special education teacher apprenticeships
Based on: Connecticut Receives $4.7 Million Federal Grant to Expand Special Education Workforce Pathways
Based on: Governor Braun Visits Bloomfield Middle and High School to See First-in-the-Nation Cybersecurity Pathway in Action
Based on: ICYMI: Florida Announces the Start of Workforce Pell Grant Funding to Support Short-Term, Career-Focused Training
Based on: LCPS Expands Career Pathways with New Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Based on: Florida Department of Education Awarded $6.6 Million Grant to Expand Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Florida Students
