Career and Technical Education Numbers Increase Again in Michigan

Funding Needed from Legislature to Meet Demand

LANSING—Newly released data further demonstrate the increasing demand in Michigan for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that prepare students for high-wage and high-skills careers.

In the 2024-25 school year, a record 55,431 students in Michigan completed CTE programs, the second consecutive year that the number hit a new high, according to Michigan Department of Education (MDE) data being released today. There were 52,625 CTE completers the previous school year. In the last decade, since the 2014-15 school year, CTE completers have more than doubled, from 27,014 to 55,431.

The new data further support advocacy by the Michigan Department of Education for the State Legislature to invest in CTE in the fiscal year 2026 budget, which is late in being passed. Proposed budgets of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the State Senate would provide significant funding to expand access to the popular programs in CTE deserts. The State House budget does not have funding specifically dedicated to CTE.

“The increasing number of Michigan students who are enrolling in and completing CTE classes and programs make clear that young people have a tremendous attraction to CTE programs and the high-wage and high-skills careers that often stem from them,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “The numbers would be even higher if students had greater access to programs that interested them. CTE programs can also engage students in learning who might otherwise drop out.”

CTE enrollment last school year increased for the fourth year in a row to 114,495, just below the record of 115,214 in 2011-12, the first school year in which data were available. Enrollment and completion dropped for one year during the COVID-19 pandemic and have rebounded strongly in the last few years.

The following chart shows the number of Michigan students designated as completers of CTE programs and the number who enrolled in CTE, by year. A completer is a student who has finished all state program competencies for a full program.

MDE and the State Board of Education have advocated with the legislature and governor to invest in CTE so that more children have opportunities to learn real-world skills through the programs.

CTE programs prepare students for careers in areas ranging from agriculture to skilled trades, to public safety, to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“There are CTE deserts in many Michigan communities, meaning there is limited programming available. There are also opportunity gaps where program participation is lower than expected,” said Dr. Michele Harmala, MDE deputy superintendent for Educator Excellence, Career and Technical Education, Special Education, and Administrative Law. “CTE programs can prepare students for college and give them access to college-level courses while they are still in high school, in addition to providing them with the knowledge and real-world experience they need for rewarding and well-paid careers.”

CTE programs contribute to meeting several goals in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan. That includes Goal 4, to expand secondary learning opportunities for all students; Goal 5, to increase the percentage of all students who graduate from high school; and Goal 6, to increase the percentage of adults with a post-secondary credential.

The State Board of Education earlier this year passed a resolution urging the legislature to increase CTE funding. The resolution calls for the legislature and governor to provide additional funding to local and intermediate school districts to open new high-quality career and technical education programs—particularly those in CTE deserts—to ensure equitable access across all schools.

Instead of designating funding specifically for CTE, the House budget would provide block grant funding for numerous purposes, including CTE, which would force the various programs to compete for the funding as local school districts set their budgets based on state funding.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget recommendation supports the State Board of Education’s resolution for fiscal year 2026 by including $125 million to fund the expansion of CTE state-approved programs in local and intermediate school districts with limited and/or inequitable access to CTE. The Senate Budget provides $50 million for this purpose while the House budget neglects to fund CTE expansion.

The governor’s recommendation for fiscal year 2026 also includes moderate increases to critical funding for CTE, including a 4.3% increase ($41.6 million) to provide partial reimbursement to school districts and area centers for the additional costs associated with the operation of state-approved CTE programs. It provides a 5% increase ($8.4 million) for CTE early middle college and CTE dual enrollment programs; $20 million for equipment grants; and a 4.7% increase ($5.6 million) to increase the number of students who are college and career ready.

Over the next five years, an additional investment is needed to expand opportunities for students who, because of funding, geography, transportation, and cultural barriers, have not been able to access state-approved career-tech programming.

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