ACTE and Advance CTE just released their 13th annual joint report on state CTE policy, State Policies Impacting CTE: 2025 Year in Review, which examines state-level CTE and career readiness policy trends from across the nation.
In 2025, 49 states enacted 172 CTE-related policies: the largest volume of state CTE policy activity in a single year since before the coronavirus pandemic. These actions span legislation, executive orders and budget decisions that continue to strengthen education-to-career pathways and align learning with workforce needs.
This year’s analysis highlights sustained and growing state investment across the top policy categories, including:
- Funding and industry partnerships/work-based learning, which tied as the most common policy areas
- Data, reporting and accountability, reflecting states’ emphasis on transparency and return on investment
- Access and supports and industry-recognized credentials, expanding opportunities for learners of all backgrounds
Read the 2025 report and register to join Advance CTE and ACTE March 5, 2–3 p.m. ET, for a companion webinar that will provide a high-level overview of national policy trends and a deeper dive into how Texas advanced policies in 2025 related to credentials, apprenticeships and workforce alignment.
