2026 CACTE CareerTech Summit

What happens when career exploration is designed for your most complex learners first? This session introduces Opening Doors, a structured career exploration model built for students who need the most support — and powerful enough for every student in the room. CTE educators, special education co-teachers, and ACE instructors will leave with a practical, classroom-ready differentiation framework grounded in what educators observe every day — and aligned with the accommodations already required by your students' IEPs, 504s, and ELL designations. Grounded in live implementation at Cherry Creek School District and the equity-first design principles behind CTEsoft, this session is equal parts philosophy and ready-to-use practice. Attendees will engage through guided discussion, a live framework walkthrough, and small-group application to their own context. Deliverables include the Opening Doors companion whitepaper, sample scaffolded activity structures, and a live demo of CTEsoft's differentiated curriculum generation.

This breakout session will focus on the CACTE Legislative Fellowship and how valuable participation can be to support the landscape and future of CTE. The session will provide an overview of the Fellowship itself and how it plays a role in advocating for state legislation impacting CTE programs, funding priorities, accountability measures, and emerging workforce initiatives.
 
Participants will gain insight into why participation can influence program design, as well as industry partnerships, and student opportunities. Other key points covered include; an overview of the 2-year fellowship commitment, the application process, tasks to expect, goals and outcomes to be attained and a broad understanding of practical strategies for advocacy, relationship-building with lawmakers, and effectively communicating the value of CTE in today’s economy.
 
Attendees will leave with a better understanding of why the Fellowship was created, who can benefit from participation and why this role is critical to the sustainability and function of CTE in Colorado.