Ulster BOCES is transforming a former IBM campus in Kingston, N.Y., into the Ulster BOCES Career Pathways Academies at iPark 87, a hub for career and technical education and community engagement. Slated to open in the fall, the facility will offer internships, mentorships and workforce housing, as well as serve as a model for integrating education with industry and community needs.

Community partnerships are proving invaluable to schools, providing hands-on experiences and resources beyond traditional textbooks. At Gallatin High School in Montana, Principal Erica Schnee collaborated with local partners to develop a construction course, while Illinois Valley High School in Oregon worked with nonprofits to support a fire science class.

More than a dozen high-school students participated in a forensic investigations camp at Indiana University Northwest, where they worked with the Gary Police Department to solve a mock crime scene. The camp, which is free and open to all, aims to inspire future careers in law enforcement and forensic science.

Raines Development is planning the Lantern Hotel, a 59-room boutique hotel in Columbia, S.C., that will incorporate the historic Columbia Central Fire Station. The hotel, which is projected to open this fall, will partner with the University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management and the CarolinaLIFE program to provide career paths for students, including those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

North Idaho College has reported a 14.3% increase in summer enrollment, prompting the need for more career and technical education instructors and classroom space. The college received $780,000 in state funding to hire faculty for programs such as health professions, welding and graphic design.

Four historically Black colleges and universities, led by Delaware State University, have collaborated to create eHBCU, an online portal offering 23 degree programs and 35 certifications. The initiative aims to make HBCU education accessible to a broader audience, particularly working adults and those who have started but not completed college. The portal also features industry mentorship and a virtual community, enhancing the educational experience.

Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity reports that the state leads the nation in adult professional credentialing. This success is attributed to robust workforce training programs, including significant apprenticeship initiatives, which served over 346,000 individuals and nearly 8,000 businesses in the state last year.

Debt significantly influences career choices for many Americans, with 38% taking second jobs and 37% accepting less desirable positions to manage financial obligations, according to a Zety survey. Most respondents have credit card debt, followed by mortgage, auto and student loans.

CTE for All: Hands-On Strategies to Engage Every Learner
Speakers: Amanda Bastoni and Heather Singmaster
Dec. 9, 8 a.m. to noon
Registration Cost: $175

Engaging every learner in CTE requires intentional strategies and practical tools. In this interactive pre-conference workshop, participants will:

• Gain practical strategies to increase student engagement and remove barriers to learning using Universal Design for Learning, a research-backed framework recognized in Perkins V.
• Explore AI as a tool to develop new instructional materials.
• Access free, high-quality resources available through Digital Promise and CTE Learn.

Register by July 31 for the best rates!

Do you know an outstanding educator, business partner or industry leader making a difference in CTE? Shine a spotlight on excellence with a nomination for the ACTE Impact Awards! We're recognizing outstanding Business-Education Partnerships and Champions of CTE -- those who are shaping the future of workforce education. Submit your nominations by June 30.