State Board official says career-technical programs grew rapidly; students describe hands-on benefits

Josh Whitworth, executive director for the State Board of Education, told the Senate Education Committee on Oct. 25, 2025, that Idaho’s career and technical education (CTE) programs have expanded sharply and now serve a large share of high school students.

Whitworth told senators the CTE division under the State Board oversees instruction from middle and high schools through the state’s technical colleges and runs programs such as fire-service and STARS motorcycle training to serve rural communities. "Our mission is preparing Idaho's youth and adults for high-skill, in-demand careers," he said.

Whitworth said CTE program enrollment and offerings have risen in recent years: programs grew about 49% over four years; the system serves roughly 72,000 students; and about 71% of Idaho high school students take at least one CTE course. He told the committee there are 14 career-technical schools and CTE components in more than 147 school districts, and the system awarded 3,341 CTE diplomas. On postsecondary pathways, he said Idaho has six technical colleges, four community colleges and technical programs at two four-year institutions (Lewis-Clark State College and Idaho State University). Whitworth said completion-to-placement rates for technical programs are high — he reported a 98% placement rate for completers — and that certificates and degrees are rising by about 7% over five years.

The division also oversees adult education and workforce training. Whitworth told the committee workforce training centers served more than 51,000 people and that adult education served just under 4,500 clients in 2024; he said 86% of those adult-education clients had not finished high school. He noted Idaho’s GED pass rate is about 81% compared with 72% nationally.

Two student leaders joined the committee to describe how CTE-connected student organizations deepen learning. Aidan Panacacci, president of the Technology Student Association in Idaho, said TSA offered competition and leadership experiences that go "far more than just events," teaching teamwork and practical skills and helping students discover career interests. "CTSOs are far more impactful than they may seem at first glance," Panacacci told the committee.

Emily Davis, president-elect of Idaho HOSA (Future Health Professionals), described how HOSA introduced her to health-care pathways and soft skills such as parliamentary procedure. "Through CTSOs, we're able to develop leadership, teamwork, and technical skills before stepping into the workforce," she said.

Whitworth described how the CTE division works with employers to set program standards and validate learning outcomes through employer surveys and standards reviews; he said industry representatives and educators jointly update curricula and assessments. He framed the system as a stackable pathway model in which students can enter at different points and build toward further credentials or workforce placement.

Committee members and Whitworth discussed the changing role of CTE within broader K–12 education and the importance of aligning programs with local employer demand. The committee did not take formal action during the presentation; Whitworth said budget and program items are being prepared and he offered to provide additional information to senators on request.

While the committee heard multiple statistics and program descriptions, Whitworth acknowledged staff could provide detailed breakdowns on request. Several numeric figures were given during the presentation (growth rates, enrollment counts, placement percentages and adult-education counts); where decimals or unclear transcriptions occurred during the hearing the committee was directed to agency staff for precise records.

The presentation and student remarks reflected the State Board’s emphasis on applied learning and on career-technical student organizations as pathways to leadership and employment.