The State of Career Technical Education: An Analysis of State Secondary CTE Funding Models. Research Report

Providing high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) requires robust, sustained funding designed to be responsive to both the rapidly evolving needs of industry and the diverse needs of learners. Advance CTE embarked on an analysis of states' secondary CTE funding models. In 2014, RTI International, with the support of Advance CTE, conducted research on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, which established how states allocated categorical funds for CTE during the academic year 2011-12 and the amounts of those allocations. By returning to this topic 10 years later, Advance CTE seeks to understand how CTE is funded today and position the field to adopt and implement more equitable funding models. This research report provides an introduction to the distinct features, advantages and limitations of secondary CTE funding models across all states and the District of Columbia. The report shares information based on a research scan conducted in 2022, a national survey of State CTE Directors in 2022, and in-depth interviews with state and local CTE leaders in 2023 (learn more about the methodology). Advance CTE offers recommendations and suggestions for how state leaders can work together to support high-quality CTE by positioning the field to revise and implement more equitable funding models.