CTE Research and Collaboration
highlighting Our strategic Work around career technical education So far
Research
University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab reports
April 2019
- Career Technical Education in Washtenaw County report - key findings:
- WISD students experience unequal access to CTE programs and funding across districts, within districts, and by racial and socioeconomic demographics.
- There is an overall lack of widespread familiarity with CTE offerings.
- Analysis of the regional labor market shows that WISD’s CTE programming aligns well with current and future employment opportunities in the local area. Many WISD career clusters are relevant to high-growth/ high-wage industries.
- Across WISD, stakeholders find programming to be valuable for building career and life skills. Most CTE courses in WISD do not have enough spots for the students who wish to take them. Stakeholders hope to see more resources directed toward CTE to expand existing programs and create new ones.
January 2020
- Career and Technical Education in Michigan: Access and Participation report - key findings:
- Approximately half of all Michigan students enroll in CTE courses during high school.
- Female, Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students are less likely to participate.
- More than 500,000 skilled trade careers aligned with CTE programs will be available thru 2026, primarily in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, automotive technology, and information technology.
December 2021
- WISD CTE Analysis: Enrollment and Labor Market Alignment - key findings:
- Demand for CTE is equal across all districts.
- Access on paper does not reflect participation due to travel barriers. Students are twice as likely to attend a CTE program if it is offered in their home high school, and travel time to programs hosted elsewhere also factors into participation.
December 2022
- How Access to CTE Varies Across Michigan Schools and Students - key findings:
- Low income, Black, and hispanic students have less overall access to CTE and are less likely to attend schools with at least one CTE program.
- Access is greater for all demographic groups in districts with CTE millages, and they reduce socioeconomic and racial gaps in access.
- CTE participation and completion rates are significantly higher in schools with on-site CTE programs.
February 2024
- Inequities in CTE Access in Washtenaw County - key findings:
- Access to CTE is limited. All students in Washtenaw County, from every demographic group, have access to fewer programs on average when compared to the state.
- Access to CTE is inequitable. Economically disadvantaged, Black, and Hispanic students have less overall access to CTE programming compared to their more affluent and White peers.
- Access to any program is dependent on which district and building a student attends. Economically disadvantaged, Black, and Hispanic students are less likely to attend schools with at least one on-campus CTE program.
- Access to high skill, high wage, and in demand programs varies across districts and is inequitable.
- Strategies to address these inequities could include merging entities or systems, facilitating opportunities within comprehensive high schools and neutral site locations, addressing local transportation and scheduling issues, and funding models.
Hanover Research
December 2024
- Hanover Research conducted a benchmarking analysis of applied and experiential learning and CTE opportunities by defining applied and experiential learning and reviewing exemplary models across the country. The analysis recommended ensuring age- and developmentally-appropriate applied and experiential learning programs and opportunities—like CTE—are integrated equitably into the curriculum across Washtenaw County.
- Hanover Research conducted focus groups with local middle and high school students, parents, and business leaders to learn more about their experiences with applied and experiential learning opportunities and how they can be improved for future students. Across all groups, key themes and insights included:
- There is a strong call for making these applied and experiential learning and CTE opportunities and programs more accessible and equitable, particularly for students from diverse backgrounds and regions.
- There is an appreciation for the hands-on nature of applied and experiential learning and CTE programs, and the practical skills developed that prepare students for the workforce.
- Introducing students to these opportunities and programs at an earlier age and ensuring continuous engagement is seen as crucial for fostering interest and preparedness.
January 2025
- Hanover Research conducted a countywide digital survey of more than 4,000 middle and high school students, parents, educators, and business leaders to understand their experiences with CTE opportunities.
March 2025
- Hanover prepared a CTE programming gap analysis, comparing current CTE offerings within Washtenaw County to labor market demands, as well as to programs in Kalamazoo, Kent, and Oakland Counties. The research highlighted pathways Washtenaw County should enhance or expand to ensure students are prepared for high-demand, high-wage careers, including:
- Health Sciences
- Construction Trades
- Engineering/Advanced Manufacturing
- Robotics/Mechatronics
- Information Technology
- Aviation/Aerospace
- Public Safety
- Biomedical Sciences
Epic-MRA
April 2025
- Epic-MRA conducted a phone survey on behalf of WISD to understand community perceptions of CTE programs.
Visioning
January 2022 - April 2023
- WISD coordinated a superintendent work group to explore the possibility of a regional CTE system.
August 2023
- Washtenaw County districts and the WISD jointly invested in a countywide CTE director position to lead CTE collaboration efforts.
April 2024
- WISD hosted think tank sessions with industry, government, education, and philanthropy partners to address the need for expanded, universal access to applied and experiential learning opportunities, including CTE.
August 2024
- The Washtenaw Superintendents’ Association and think tank participants developed a framework for PreK-12 career readiness educational experiences.
Winter/Spring 2025
- WISD updated all nine local school district Boards of Education on CTE growth and opportunities.
January 2025
- The Michigan Department of Education Board of Education passed a resolution calling for increased expansion and investment in CTE programs, particularly where CTE opportunity gaps exist.
March 2025
- WISD hosted a PreK-12 CTE Education Summit, bringing together 200+ community stakeholders to co-create the next chapter of countywide CTE.
April 2025
- WISD formed an advisory committee of school and business leaders to guide, sustain, and grow CTE efforts long-term in Washtenaw County.
May - June 2025
- All nine local school district Boards of Education passed a resolution in support of WISD placing a millage proposal before voters to expand CTE opportunities.
- The WISD Board of Education then voted unanimously to place a Career Technical Education (CTE) millage proposal on the November 4, 2025 ballot.
Funding
2021-22 School Year
- WISD received $535,000 in grant funds from the Michigan Department of Education to update equipment for existing CTE programs and purchase new equipment to help launch new programs.
2022-23 School Year
- WISD received another state-awarded grant of $576,000 for CTE equipment.
2023-2024 School Year
- WISD received a final state CTE equipment grant of $1,153,000. This was the last year of available funding.
- WISD received a $250,000 state grant to study the consolidation of local CTE services and support to expand student access.
2024-2025 School Year
- WISD was approved for a $5,000,000 state consolidation grant to implement the findings and recommendations of the July 2024 University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab report.
Recent Program Additions
Program Expansion
In the past five years, Washtenaw County CTE consortia have been able to add new state-approved high school programs, in part due to state-funded CTE equipment grants.
2020-2021
- Engineering Technology/Robotics - SWWC (Chelsea)
2022-2023
- Computer and Information Systems/Cybersecurity/Information Assurance - SWWC (Chelsea)
- Hospitality and Tourism Management - SWWC (Chelsea)
- Exercise and Sports Medicine - SWWC (Saline and Chelsea)
2023-2024
- Computer Programming - Ann Arbor (Pioneer)
- Computer Programming - Ann Arbor (Skyline)
- Computer Programming - Ann Arbor (Huron)
- Computer Systems Administration - Ann Arbor (Pioneer)
- Computer Systems Administration - Ann Arbor (Skyline)
- Computer Systems Administration - Ann Arbor (Huron)
- Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources - Ann Arbor (Skyline)
- Engineering Technology - Ann Arbor (Huron)
- Engineering Technology - Lincoln
- Engineering Technology - Manchester
- Careers in Education - Whitmore Lake
- Theater Management & Operations - Whitmore Lake
- Engineering/Machining - Ypsilanti
- TV & Radio Broadcasting - Ypsilanti
2024-2025
- Construction Trades - Milan
- Computer Programming - Ann Arbor (Community)
- Computer and Information Systems/Cybersecurity/Information Assurance - Ann Arbor (Community)
- Engineering Technology - Ann Arbor (Pioneer)
- Hospitality & Tourism Management - Ann Arbor (Huron)
2025-2026
- Drone and Aviation Technology - Lincoln
- Drone and Aviation Technology - Ypsilanti
- plus additional programs in progress at Ypsilanti
Current Barriers to Access
A Decentralized System
Washtenaw County's 70+ state-approved high school CTE programs are housed in local high schools across four districts/consortia:
- Ann Arbor
- Whitmore Lake
- Ypsilanti
- South & West Washtenaw Consortium (representing Chelsea, Dexter, Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, and Saline)
These local districts/consortia run their CTE programs independently from one another, both from a funding and operations perspective. Not all schools or districts have the resources to meet the growing demand for CTE. While some districts struggle with sustaining their CTE programs and meeting the current student demand, others don’t have the capacity to improve or expand programs to ensure they are up-to-date and align to industry needs. That means some students miss out on cutting-edge learning opportunities that set them up for success after graduation.
Supply Doesn't Meet the Growing Demand
Today in Washtenaw County, more students want to enroll in CTE programs than we have available spots for. With demand at an all time high, we have an opportunity to respond and meet that demand. In the 2024-25 school year, more than 325 Washtenaw students were on waitlists, even after adding 25 new state-approved CTE programs in the last few years.
At a time when 9th-12th grade enrollment is decreasing across the county, our CTE enrollment has nearly doubled, from 1,866 in 2021-22 (or 12.6% of the total high school enrollment), to 3,157 in 2024-25 (or 23.3% of the total high school enrollment). In other words: the demand for CTE is strong across Washtenaw County, but the number and type of CTE programs available haven’t kept pace. This means not all students in our county can explore their interests through impactful CTE programs.
Inequities in the Current Model
When we dig even deeper into data from a 2024 University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab report, we see that:
- Students in low-income communities, as well as Black students and Hispanic students have less overall access to CTE. These students are less likely to attend schools with at least one CTE program.
- Students in smaller districts have less access, too.
- These demographic variations coupled with additional funding, transportation, and logistic barriers collectively contribute to the fact that Washtenaw students have access to fewer CTE programs compared to their peers across the state.
Funding
Local school districts’ general funds support the majority of CTE programs in Washtenaw County, as state and federal funding only provides approximately 28% of the funds needed for state-approved CTE programs. Today, districts are pulling more than $10 million from their general funds to bring learning to life through CTE. Districts are being asked to cover the immense costs of adding new programs, hiring qualified CTE instructors, repairing necessary equipment, and budgeting for certification exam costs, which can range from $150 to $750. These costs are in addition to their day-to-day costs to operate their districts and run their schools, and it is not sustainable. Our current funding model limits our ability to inspire the next generation of professionals.
Today:
- Funding levels vary across districts, meaning not all students have the same reliable access to enriching CTE opportunities.
- Whereas most other Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) in Michigan use their millages (i.e., property taxes) to fund countywide CTE centers that all students can access, Washtenaw County’s current funding model results in local districts/consortia independently operating their own CTE program.
- Without a sustainable approach to funding at the county level – one that is supported by multiple funding streams – districts have to rely on limited resources to support CTE.
- All of this leads to real differences in access and opportunity, depending on where a student lives.
Transportation and Logistics
While there are more than 70 CTE programs available across Washtenaw County, there are stark boundaries that determine which students can enroll in which programs. In other words, the community in which a student lives determines the set of CTE programs available to them. Traveling within a district/consortium to access an available program that is only available on a campus far from their home campus can present a major challenge for many students.
Increased travel leads to decreased participation. Students are twice as likely to attend a CTE program if it is offered in their home high school compared to having to travel to a different school.
- An additional 10 minutes of travel time to a neighboring school that might offer a particular CTE program reduces the likelihood that a student will participate in that program. Almost no students travel more than 30 minutes to a CTE program.
- At the same time, many Washtenaw County schools can’t offer reliable transportation for students, due to funding limitations. This means accessing CTE programs is neither simple nor convenient for many students.