Illinois

The Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education (IACTE) has been hard at work for its Illinois members, as well as for Region III members. Below are a few highlights of what they have been working on since this summer, and what is planned through next summer. If you have any questions or would like to discuss what is happening in Illinois, please contact Chris Merrill, Ph.D., DTE, IACTE Executive Director at info@iacte.org.

IACTE, along with the Illinois Career and Technical Administrators (ICTA) held its Back-to-School Workshop at the end of July for CTE administrators and new/nearly new CTE teachers at Illinois State University. An excellent program was offered over the two-day workshop. Plans are already being developed for next year’s event.

The state association is also hosting monthly online professional development for its members. This past month, the topic centered on classroom management and student engagement. In October, the topic is the use of artificial intelligence. IACTE is accepting presentation applications for the 95th Annual IACTE Conference set for Feb. 13–14, in Springfield, Illinois. The due date for applications is Nov. 1. Presentation applicants will be notified of IACTE’s decision before the end of November. This year’s conference is a celebration of 95 years of success! The theme of the conference is "Empowering CTE Leaders". 

In other news, IACTE is developing a new website to better serve its members and affiliates. Also, the 2025 CTE Legislative Showcase has been scheduled for March 26 in Springfield, Illinois. Additional details will be forthcoming.

Illinois is hosting the ACTE Region III Conference in June 9–11, in Joliet. As additional plans are developed, they will be shared.

Indiana

Indiana ACTE held another successful state CTE Conference on Sept. 13–14! This year our keynote speaker was 2015 Indiana Teacher of the Year, Kathy Nimmer. She reminded everyone of our purpose in education and left very few dry eyes in the house with the story of a former student. The board is gearing up to start planning next year's conference where we will celebrate 60 years as an association! In August, a second draft of the new Indiana diploma was released. While the changes made were much appreciated, another round of public comment will be opening soon. The Indiana ACTE website is undergoing a complete redesign and we can't wait to debut it! This will allow us to do more with our FocusEd professional development and resources for members and non-members. We can't wait to see you all in San Antonio, Texas in just a few short months!

Iowa

Iowa held its annual House of Delegates Meeting via Zoom on Sept. 17. Previously, this was held at the end of our state conference. The virtual format allowed for improved attendance from all divisions. 

The passage of Senate File 2411 in Iowa clarified a consistent definition of work-based learning with an increased focus on sustained student interaction with an outside business or industry partner. Click here for more information.

New legislation now provides for a new cluster endorsement, which can be used for industry professionals turned teachers to be allowed to teach courses across the broad areas of agriculture, industrial technology, business, family and consumer sciences, health sciences, and information solutions. Prior to this, CTE authorizations were limited to teaching coursework within their area of industry experience. Click here for more information.

High schools will now be able to utilize CTE courses for core credit requirements. House File 2465, an Act modifying provisions related to the curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve by allowing instruction related to agriculture to meet a portion of the unit requirements related to science and allowing instruction related to applied sciences, technology, engineering or manufacturing to meet a portion of the unit requirements related to mathematics. Click here for more information.

Missouri

Missouri FFA students made a remarkable impact during the State Day of Service by packing over 175,000 meals, highlighting the dedication of our future leaders. On Sept. 16, Missouri State University hosted the CTE Learn & Lead event, offering valuable insights for students. Additionally, the Missouri Association of Career Services held a successful Fall PD event at Lewis & Clark Career Center, where career services professionals from across the state gathered to network and enhance their skills in supporting students. Great job, everyone!

Minnesota

MnACTE, MnACTA, and Lakes Country Service Cooperative are co-hosting a fourth co-short of CTE Policy Fellows to take a deep dive into CTE policy, rulemaking, and our influence on the political system. This year 25 teachers, CTE administrators, department of education employees, and school administrators are participating in the CTE Policy and Leadership Fellowship. 

New this year is the second phase of the CTE Policy and Leadership Fellowship specifically focused on change management. The goal of this fellowship is to empower CTE Leaders with the knowledge, skills, and collaborative opportunities to drive meaningful and sustainable systems change in their communities. There are 20 alumni from the CTE Policy and Leadership Fellowship engaging in the work on systems change.

Wisconsin

ACTE members in Wisconsin continue to make progress toward forming a statewide CTE organization with the assistance of ACTE. Planning efforts have led to in-depth discussions that are guiding the direction. Participation among key stakeholders has been strong, with excellent representation from K-12 CTE coordinators, CTE teachers, post-secondary colleges, and the state's leading CTE teacher preparation programs from various universities. We are excited to move forward and hope to gather more input from teachers as we work toward charting a clear path for the organization.

The current goal is to have a framework for the organization in place soon, with the aim of formally launching the state association in Fall 2025. This timeline aligns well with the 2026 ACTE Region III Conference, which could serve as a regional kickoff for the new state organization. Many individuals remain committed to maintaining momentum and will provide updates on the progress at this year’s ACTE Region III Conference in Illinois.