State reports higher graduation, placement rates for CTE students

Tennessee is steering more students into Career and Technical Education programs through expanded funding and industry partnerships. Amanda Chin, director of media for the Tennessee Department of Education, said the push is aimed at aligning classroom learning with workforce demand while improving student outcomes. "Over the past several years, Tennessee has increased financial investments in the state's CTE programs across K-12 and postsecondary education systems with the primary goal of boosting the skilled workforce available to high-demand industries," Chin said. She said the strategy reflects a broader shift in how the state prepares students for life after high school, with added emphasis on work-based learning and Early Postsecondary Opportunities. "Tennessee students are better equipped to succeed when they have access to earning industry-aligned credentials, early college coursework, expert-guided career planning and hands-on, real-world experiences," she said. "Whether it's by developing professional development opportunities for educators, increasing access to dual enrollment, streamlining pathways into high-demand careers, or offering immersive work-based learning experiences — our efforts are focused on ensuring students are seen, supported and prepared." Chin said the department measures success through long-term outcomes such as employment, postsecondary enrollment and military service, with about 90 percent of CTE students placed in a postsecondary or career pathway after completing their programs. Data from the Tennessee Department of Education says CTE students graduate at higher rates than their peers. In 2020-21, 96 percent of CTE concentrators graduated within four years, compared with 88 percent of all students statewide, indicating stronger retention and completion among students in career-focused pathways. She said students who take part in Early Postsecondary Opportunities are 88 percent more likely to continue their education as well. She said students in work-based learning programs are nearly 25 percent more likely to enroll in postsecondary education and earn about $4,200 more annually without a degree eight years after graduation, pointing to both improved access to education and higher early-career earnings. That growth coincides with a steady rise in state investment in CTE programs over the past decade. Chin said that Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly invested $500 million to expand Innovative School Strategies, a statewide effort to align education with workforce needs. "Innovative School Strategies is the main initiative within the Student Readiness priority plan," she said. "That $500 million investment expands access to locally driven, innovative programs that align student learning with Tennessee's workforce needs and future-ready career pathways." The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act, enacted in 2022, also shifted the state to a student-based funding formula and directs more than $9 billion toward education, according to Chin. "The 2025-26 TISA allocation for CTE programs could be as high as $5,700, with an additional $2 million allocated to support programs requiring extra resources," she said. She added that the department distributed $2.6 million in Perkins Reserve Grant funds to 55 districts in 2024-25 to support programs tied to high-skill and in-demand industries. Chin cited regional partnerships as one of the state initiatives driving CTE's success. "Partnerships with local industries are key to Tennessee's CTE strategy, making sure programs stay aligned with regional workforce needs, giving students hands-on learning opportunities and creating clear pathways to employment and postsecondary success," she said. "There are hundreds of work-based learning employer partners across the state, including impactful ones like Komatsu, Valmont Industries Inc. and Nissan." She said the overall goal is to connect academic rigor with career readiness so students can pursue multiple paths after graduation. "Tennessee's approach ensures that academic rigor and career preparation are seamlessly connected, so all students graduate prepared for both postsecondary success and entry into high-demand, high-wage careers," she said.