Utah’s secondary CTE strategic plan focuses on preparing students for the workforce through four core goals outlined by the Utah State Board of Education CTE.
This newsletter focuses on Goal 1: Awareness and Outreach.
Angling for Student Voice
Casting the Line: Strategic Plan Goal 1 Outreach
As the lack of awareness of the benefits and opportunities provided by CTE programs continues to be a challenge in Utah, through the year 2029 the CTE Awareness and Outreach team will provide you with tools to:
Cast a Wider Net: Expand outreach to parents and families about the benefits of CTE.
Guide the Course: Improve college and career advising systems.
Explore Open Waters: Expand career exploration opportunities.
SY27 Focus
As we navigate SY27, our primary focus is elevating learner voice across CTE programs while gearing up for CTE Month in February. By weaving student voice directly into this year's theme—Try it. Build it. Own it.—we are casting a wider net to help parents and families discover how CTE prepares their teens for real-world college and career success.
Reeling in Student Voice: September Directors Meeting Recap
Use the self-assessment starting on page 35 to evaluate and strengthen your local learner voice strategies.
Checking Our Nets: Learner Voice Survey Results
A total of 41 institutions cast their lines and shared candid reflections, data, and future goals through our Google Form self-assessment. Your transparent responses give us a clear baseline of where learner voice thrives across our state—and where we can collectively navigate our resources, coaching, and collaboration for the 2026–2027 school year.
Overall Statewide Average: 2.41 / 4.00
Top Strengths: Celebrating Success & Diverse Classroom Experiences
Over 63% of respondents rated their recognition efforts as Proficient or Advanced. From pathway completer cords and awards assemblies to industry certificate celebrations, LEAs do a wonderful job highlighting student milestones.
Multiple Avenues for Engagement (Avg. 2.66 / 4.00)
Over 61% reported strong variety in hands-on learning, work-based learning, internships, and introductory courses that spark student interest.
Primary Growth Areas: Program Co-Design & Sustained Processes
78% of responding institutions noted they are at Beginning or Emerging levels. While annual student registration numbers and course surveys guide course offerings, few institutions currently invite students into active planning or advisory discussions.
Sustaining Engagement via Institutionalized Processes (Avg. 2.24 / 4.00)
Feedback loops are frequently dependent on individual, passionate teachers rather than formal, district-wide procedures.
Reading the Water: What Our Learner Voice Plans Are Telling Us
Thank you to the 16 directors who submitted an initial Learner Voice Action Plan. Your responses are already helping us see both promising practices and opportunities for growth.
One thing is clear: we already have many structures we can build on—advisory committees, CTSOs, surveys, CLNA processes, student groups, counseling systems and existing relationships with learners.
We're also seeing an important next step. Many plans identify how we will ask students for input. Now we need to strengthen the other half of learner voice:
The initial responses give us a useful first look, but not a complete picture. Our goal is for every director to leave this year with one meaningful learner-voice cycle connected to their CTE work.
Whether you've already submitted or haven't started yet, please revisit your plan using these five questions:
What are we trying to learn?
Who do we need to hear from?
How will we engage them?
What will their input influence?
How will we know—and show learners—that their voice mattered?
We'll continue working through these steps together during the year. The goal is not a perfect plan today. The goal is to build a practice of doing CTE with learners, not just for learners.
Stocking Your CTE Tackle Box: CTE Awareness and Outreach Toolkit
On the Directors Corner of UtahCTE.org a new toolkit has been created to provide LEAs with a collection of publications and resources to assist them with effectively advocating and promoting CTE while increasing awareness of CTE to parents, students, industry, and the community.
Landing the Big Catch: CTE Month - February 2027
CTE Month Theme: Try it. Build it. Own it.
TRY IT Explore careers and CTE programs
BUILD IT Develop skills, credentials, and experiences. Get your blueprint ready for CTE Month.
OWN IT Take action toward a career, college, apprenticeship, or industry certification.
What is your plan for October through January to elevate student voice during CTE Month?
Awareness and Outreach CTE Publications and Resources
Statewide resources and publications have been developed to assist LEAs with promoting the CTE programs in their schools.
Many high school students don’t understand the purpose and value of Career and Technical Education. Below are two resources to assist you in your efforts to highlight the benefits of students participating in CTE and to recruit students into your CTE programs.
This flyer provides a list of talking points to share with students, parents, industry, and the media as you advocate for and promote Career and Technical Education. These talking points highlight the purpose of CTE and the value of students participating in a CTE Career Pathway.
What strategies are you using to market your CTE programs and recruit students? The CTE Recruitment Guide can help you think about different strategies to use to market your CTE programs and recruit students.
Reminders
Don’t forget to showcase and promote your CTE programs using social media, the web, and print publications. Here are some ideas of How to Promote Your CTE Program.
Share with us what is happening in your schools. Be sure to tag @UtahCTE and #UtahCTE on social media.
Tip
Did you know that Utah CTE owns the domain name UtahCTE.org? It’s true! Typing utahcte.org into your browser is a faster way to get to the home page of Career and Technical Education on the Utah State Board of Education website. So, the next time you’re looking for Utah CTE information use utahcte.org.
