State Board official tells Senate committee CTE programs have surged as students describe leadership, career benefits

BOISE — The Senate Education Committee heard a briefing on the rapid growth of career and technical education programs in Idaho on an agenda item presented by Josh Whitworth, executive director for the State Board of Education. Whitworth described increases in program access across middle schools, high schools and technical colleges and introduced student leaders who testified about leadership and career benefits from CTSOs.

Whitworth said the division that oversees CTE serves secondary students through technical colleges and workforce training, and emphasized the system’s role in connecting education with employer needs. He told the committee the CTE division has expanded “about 49%” over the past four years, serves roughly 72,000 students and that about 71% of Idaho high school students take at least one CTE course. He said the state has 14 career-technical schools and CTE components in about 147 school districts.

Those numbers, Whitworth said, translate into credentials and placements. He reported roughly 3,341 CTE diplomas awarded on the secondary side, an increase in certificates and degrees at the postsecondary level (reported as about 1,782 certificates and degrees in the most recent session), and that nearly all technical-college completers secure placements: “98 percent of completers earn positive placements,” he said. Whitworth also described adult-education and workforce training: about 4,500 clients served in 2024, 86% of whom had not finished high school, and an Idaho GED pass rate he reported at 81% compared with a 72% national rate.

Whitworth explained how program standards and curricula are driven by employer engagement and periodic standards reviews: local industry and educators “sit in that room negotiating… writing the evaluation and assessments together,” he said, to ensure students learn skills employers identify as critical.

Two student leaders who followed Whitworth told the committee how CTSOs influenced their plans. Aiden Panacacci, identified as president of the Technology Student Association (TSA), said TSA offered him leadership and competitive experiences and “the most profound impact… is its emphasis on leadership development and community building.” He described winning a state-level essay competition and advancing to nationals, and said CTSOs place students in real leadership roles that “equip students with invaluable skills.”

Emily Davis, identified as president-elect of Idaho HOSA (Future Health Professionals), said HOSA exposed her to a wide range of health-care topics and “opened a world of possibilities.” She described competing in parliamentary procedure and participating in more than 90 practice meetings, and said state HOSA leadership helped her build professional connections with government and health-care experts.

Committee members asked few follow-up questions during the presentation. Whitworth closed by saying the CTE division has budget items under consideration and offered to provide additional detail to the committee on request.