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.
Try it. Build it. Own it. Get Ready for CTE Month: February 2027
Elevate learner voice across CTE programs while gearing up for CTE Month in February. Weave student voice directly into this year's 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.
SEPTEMBER: Angling for Student Voice
Identify Awareness and Outreach questions and learner partners; create tentative plans.
OCTOBER: Gather the Gear
Prep the survey.
NOVEMBER:
Scout the Waters
Review data and participation gaps. Identify learners; select method; prepare learners/adults; conduct first engagement.
DECEMBER:
Cast the Line
Send information to the general student body to see if you can catch any new students.
Analyze what was heard and identify one or more actions.
JANUARY:
Change the Bait
Are you using the right tactics?
FEBRUARY:
Small Fish Still Tell You Something
CTE Month: implement change in messaging, advising, exploration, and resources, etc.
MARCH:
Same Body of Water, Different Spot
Return to learners: "Here's what we changed. Did it help?" Gather second-round feedback.
APRIL:
Find the Prize Fish
Document results and lessons learned. Share promising practices and identify next year's learner-voice cycle.
What is your plan during October through January to elevate student voice as you prepare for CTE Month?
November Goals
Review local participation data.
Identify access barriers.
Select tailored engagement methods.
Prepare adult facilitators.
Conduct initial engagements with students and families.
Directors Action Items for November
Key Steps
Main Goals
Final Results
Review Data
Identify student groups experiencing barriers or underrepresentation in CTE.
Participation review summary
Select Methods
Combine interactive focus groups with targeted student surveys.
Student engagement plan
Prepare Leaders
Equip counselors and teachers with standardized discussion guides.
Facilitator resource kit
Execute Sessions
Hold student and family focus groups during October and November.
Survey results and focus group data
Plan December Review
Analyze student feedback to choose one or two key improvements for CTE Month.
Action plan for CTE Month
Best Practices for Student Engagement
1. Interactive Student Focus Groups
Make Engagement Multimodal: Instead of a boring lecture, have students use sticky notes to share ideas, vote on posters, or do quick group activities to stay energized.
Seek Authentic Feedback: Ask students what makes it hard to join certain classes, rather than quizzing them on what they already know.
Balance Depth and Breadth: Talk with a small group of students to get detailed stories, and give a quick survey to the whole school to see what everyone thinks.
Ensure Facilitation Consistency:Give every teacher the exact same question guide so that every group has the same experience.
2. Strategic Student Surveys
Establish Reliable Facilitation Windows:Give students time to take the survey during regular classes like advisory or CTE intro periods so everyone has enough time to finish.
Enable Data Disaggregation: Make sure the survey asks for grade levels and background info so you can easily spot if certain groups of students are missing out.
Pair with Administrative Datasets: Match what students write in the survey with actual school enrollment records to see if the data matches up.
3. Sustainable Voice for District Decisions
Track Longitudinal Data:Look at how student interests change over several years by checking old career plans and class sign-ups.
Combine Formal and Informal Input:Check if everyday chat and classroom observations match up with what the big surveys show.
Engage the Broader Ecosystem: Talk not just to students, but also to parents, counselors, and local employers to see what jobs and skills are most useful.
Drive Visible Action: Show students their voice matters by telling them when their feedback helps open new classes, like medical tech programs.
Reading the Water: What Learner Voice Plans Are Telling Us
LEAs and postsecondary institutions already have many structures we can build on—advisory committees, CTSOs, surveys, CLNA processes, student groups, counseling systems and existing relationships with learners. What other practices and opportunities are there for growth?
The goal is not a perfect plan today. The goal is to build a practice of doing CTE with learners, not just for learners.
Did you submit your initialLearner Voice Action Plan? If you didn't, it's not too late. Click on the above link to access the plan.
Checking Our Nets: Learner Voice Survey Results
To date, a total of 41 institutions have cast their lines and shared candid reflections, data, and future goals through our Google Form self-assessment. Your transparent responses have given 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.
Enhancing Communications: Leverage student perspectives to revamp school communications, particularly regarding CTE offerings
Understanding Baseline Knowledge: Gauge how much students currently know about CTE overall and their specific programs.
Identifying Helpful Information: Determine what details students find most useful when learning about different program options.
Highlighting Benefits: Understanding what students perceive as the biggest advantages of participating in a CTE program.
Improving Engagement: Discover how the school can better engage students through its communication channels.
Think about your CTE programs and what is happening in your schools. Share your highlights and student experiences with us. Be sure to tag @UtahCTE and #UtahCTE on social media.
Stocking Your CTE Tackle Box: CTE Awareness and Outreach Toolkit
REMINDER: A CTE Awareness and Outreach Toolkit has been created to provide LEAs with a collection of publications and resources to assist with effectively advocating and promoting CTE while increasing awareness of CTE to parents, students, industry, and the community.
For additional facilitation templates, resource toolkits, or assistance, please contact the USBE CTE Awareness and Outreach team at utahcte@schools.utah.gov.
