Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Career Technical Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State board official says career-technical programs surged; students describe leadership, career benefits
Summary
Executive Director Josh Whitworth told the Senate Education Committee that Idaho's Career Technical Education (CTE) programs have grown substantially over four years and now reach tens of thousands of students. Two student leaders from CTSOs described how programs such as TSA and HOSA build leadership and career skills.
At a meeting of the Idaho Senate Education Committee, Josh Whitworth, Executive Director for the State Board of Education, told senators that the state’s Career Technical Education division has expanded rapidly, reporting about a 49% program growth over four years and serving roughly 72,000 students across middle, high school and postsecondary programs.
The growth, Whitworth said, spans secondary CTE courses, technical colleges and adult education. “We serve about 72,000 students in CTE programs and that represents about 71% of all high school students taking some level of CTE course,” Whitworth told the committee. He described CTE as a system that connects employers, educators and students to produce industry-validated skills and credentials.
Whitworth placed emphasis on industry engagement and standards: programs are driven by employer needs, validated through criticality surveys and updated by educators and industry partners. He described a multi-room standards review under way and said Idaho’s technical college system—six technical colleges, four community colleges and two four-year institutions that provide technical programs—awards certificates and degrees that have been increasing over time.
Students attending the committee hearing described how career-technical student organizations (CTSOs) support leadership and career readiness. Aidan Panacacci, president of the Technology Student Association, said CTSOs offer more than competitions: “Leadership not only inspires people to collaborate, motivates them to pursue common goals, and empowers them to overcome obstacles, but it also encourages continuous learning and growth.” He described TSA as a platform that exposed him to STEM competition, leadership roles and national experience.
Emily Davis, president-elect of Idaho HOSA, said HOSA broadened her view of health careers and taught practical skills including parliamentary procedure. “HOSA opened a world of possibilities,” she said, and described repeated mock meetings and competitions as training grounds for leadership and technical skills.
Committee members praised the students and asked for continued support of CTE and CTSOs. Whitworth highlighted secondary CTE concentrators—students who take multiple CTE courses and often complete a capstone—and cited outcomes he said include higher rates of postsecondary continuation compared with peers. He also described adult education activity: “just under 4,500 clients served in 2024” with an 81% GED pass rate reported for Idaho compared with 72% nationally, figures he presented to the committee.
No formal committee action or vote on CTE policy occurred; the presentation and student remarks were informational. Committee members encouraged continued engagement between the State Board’s CTE division, local districts and employers and thanked the students for their testimony.
Less critical background: Whitworth framed CTE as spanning secondary through technical colleges and noted specialties such as fire service and motorcycle training that support rural communities. He also described a growth in CTE diplomas and that workforce training centers serve tens of thousands of Idaho residents.
Sources: remarks and data presented to the Senate Education Committee by Josh Whitworth and in-person testimony by Aidan Panacacci and Emily Davis.
