2026 CACTE CareerTech Summit

By 2029, every Colorado high school graduate must hit at least one of the state's "Big Three" milestones: earning college credit, attaining an industry-recognized credential, or completing quality work-based learning. While these mandates may seem daunting, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs possess the unique "superpower" to achieve all three outcomes simultaneously within a single pathway. This breakout session is specifically designed for CTE teachers and district leaders to bridge the gap between state goals and classroom reality. During the session we will utilize real-time polling and collaborative conversations ("think-pair-share" for example) to explore how to audit, expand, and advocate for CTE as an engine for student success. Participants will leave with a  digital toolkit—accessible via QR code—containing implementation checklists, program mapping templates, and advocacy resources to save time and re-engage their school communities in this important work.