Announcements

Perkins and State CTE Funding for FY 2027

 

The 2026- 2027 State CTE Funding and Carl Perkins Intent to Apply Survey is open until end noon on March 16, 2026.  This is used to accept state CTE funding for FY 2027, this is a calculation based of your CTE course enrollments, work-based learning properly endorsed teachers, CTSO members, and extended contracts.  The Perkins Intent to apply allows us to create an allocation for the FY 27 Perkins grant- our funding is level set, so allocations should be similar to the previous year.

 

This will be a CLNA year, districts will need to complete the CLNA worksheet and meet the eligibility requirements: Submitted 2025 End of Year CTE Data, Fall 2025 CTE Data Report, and have approved Montana Career Pathways (Class AA/A- 3 pathways, Class B- 2 pathways, Class C- 1 pathway).

Complete the Survey here.

 Due Date Reminders

25th of Each Month- Deadline to submit cash requests for processing and payment on the 10th of each month.

March 16- State CTE Funding and Perkins Intent to Apply Survey DUE

June 1- Last day to submit an amendment for Perkins Grant.

June 10- deadline for the last June payment. If your district has not completed a Cash Request, it MUST be in by this date.

June 20- CTE End of Year Data Collection is DUE in Infinite Campus.

  • This is a Federal Reporting Requirement for all Federal Grants, failure to complete this report correctly will result in loss of eligibility to receive Perkins funding.
  • Completing this report late, will result in inaccurate reporting from Montana and will elevate the districts Risk Assessment.

June 30- the last day to encumber spending for Perkins FY 26 funding

June 30- DUE Date for Perkins 2027 Application

August 10- Perkins 2026 Final Expenditure Reports are due.  If you are late submitting your FER- it will result in keeping the entire state from receiving final allocations.

Career, Technical, and Adult Education (CTAE) Content Pages

CTE Licensure Information

Class 4 Renewal Requirements 

Teacher Endorsement Codes & K-12 Course Codes

Class 4 Educator License Options

A Work-Based Learning (WBL) Coordinator plays a crucial role in connecting students' classroom education with real-world work experiences. They serve as a bridge between educational institutions, students, and employers, facilitating meaningful learning opportunities that prepare students for future careers and post-secondary education. A WBL endorsement is a specialized credential that allows an educator OR a Qualified Workforce applicant to lead and manage work-based learning programs within a school or district. 

 

Financial Literacy

Montana Financial Literacy & Econ Graduation Requirement Fact Sheet 

Graduation Requirements - ARM 10.55.904

Financial Literacy Course Codes

  • Montana financial literacy and economics courses are a subset of NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) standard codes. Along with the course code, a content description for each course is provided where financial literacy or economics is embedded within the course:

  • Professional Development Optional Opportunities 

 

CTE Funding & Data Reporting

Data Collection 

Montana Career Pathways

CTAE Standards, Guidelines & Resources

Professional Development

  • January 7 FCS Lunch and Learn- Fashion, Textiles, and Interiors Pathway email Gayla.Randel@mt.gov for more information
  • January 8 FCS Lunch and Learn- Culinary & Food Services/Travel & Event Management Pathways email Gayla.Randel@mt.gov for more information
  • January 14 FCS Lunch and Learn- FCS Cross Cutting Courses and Human & Community Services Pathways email Gayla.Randel@mt.gov for more information
  • January 15 FCS Lunch and Learn- Early Childcare & Education/Teaching & Training email Gayla.Randel@mt.gov for more information
  • January 11-12 CASE Curriculum Training email Eric.Tilleman@mt.gov for more information email Gayla.Randel@mt.gov for more information
  • Starting January 21 Class 4 WBL Cohort- for those interested in applying for the credential this cohort will work through the online courses required to earn this endorsement.  Dates they will be meeting January 21, January 28, February 4, February 18, March 3, and March 17. All meetings will be 3:45- 5:00.  Registration link will be open soon.
  • January 23 FCS Unconference Virtual Meeting from 9:00-3:00 email Gayla.Randel@mt.gov for more information
 
 

Montana CTE Technical Assistance

We have scheduled several dates to provide focused technical assistance for transitioning to the new Montana Career Pathways, CTE Date and Perkins Applications Support. The following dates and times will be available for districts to get targeted CTE support, from 10 am - 2:00 pm. As always if you need additional support please reach out to anyone on our team and we can set up another time. 

CTE Pathways & WBL Technical Support

  • Wednesday, March 18th
  • Wednesday, March 25th
  • Monday, March 30th
  • Monday, April 6th
  • Wednesday, April 15th
  • Tuesday, April 21st
  • Wednesday, April 29th

Perkins and Data Collection Focused Technical Support 

  • Wednesday, May 6th
  • Wednesday, May 13th
  • Wednesday, May 20th
  • Wednesday, May 27th
  • Wednesday, June 3rd 
  • Wednesday, June 10th
  • Wednesday, June 17th 
  • Wednesday, June 24th 
  • Tuesday, June 30th - Perkins Apps Due

 

Topic: CTAE Technical Assistance

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/91271668254?pwd=4ryRN6Gj5oiOv34k10Pw224HsZBDki.1

Meeting ID: 912 7166 8254

Passcode: 046242

Work-Based Learning Licensure Cohort 

A Professional learning opportunity for teachers, counselors, administrators and others. 

This Cohort is to create a space for step-by-step support toward the Montana WBL Licensure options, provide guidance on required documentation, discuss best practices for High-Quality WBL programs, provide tools for building employer partnerships as well as create a network of Montana educators implementing quality WBL. 

Contact ethan.igo@mt.gov or shannon.boswell@mt.gov with questions

High School District Liaisons for CTE

The CTE Specialists have been assigned regionally to schools. The regions are Eastern, Northcentral, Northwest, Southcentral, and Southwest. These assignments will be used to review the 2025- 2026 Perkins Grant application and any remaining 2024-2025 amendments. If you have any questions or need assistance, our team of specialists is available to support you.

Shannon Boswell (Purple)

  • Career Technical and Adult Education Director
  • Email: Shannon.Boswell@mt.gov 

Gayla Randel- Southwest (Orange)

  • Family and Consumer Sciences Specialist
  • Email: gayla.randel@mt.gov 

Eric Tilleman - North Central (Green)

  • Agricultural Education Specialist
  • Email: eric.tilleman@mt.gov

Tammie Ellington - South Central (Gray)

  • Health Science Specialist
  • Email: tammie.ellington@mt.gov

Kaitlin Trutzel - Northwest (Blue)

  • Industrial Technology Education Specialist
  • Email: Kaitlin.Trutzel@mt.gov

Ethan Igo - Eastern (Magenta)

  • Business Education Specialist
  • Email: ethan.igo@mt.gov

Montana Colleges & Universities (Gold Stars)


Montana has been selected as one of eight states in the early adopter cohort for the new Career Clusters initiative. Our team is collaborating with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) to establish and develop updated pathways that align with the new Career Clusters created by Advanced CTE.

We aim to utilize these clusters to provide meaningful opportunities and resources for schools to engage in Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways.

All learners deserve to participate in meaningful career exploration and preparation experiences through Career Technical Education (CTE) that prepare them for the changing and interconnected world of work.

This requires systems and structures that are accessible, responsive to evolving industry needs, and flexible for the needs of each state and community. Since 2002, The National Career Clusters® Framework has provided a shared structure and language for CTE program design across the United States. Advance CTE serves as the steward of the Framework.

Check out the new Career Clusters here! 

 

Montana Career and Technical Education

Guidance Documents 

Below you can find information related to CTE Funding, Montana Career Pathways, Carl Perkins Grant and Data, State CTE Data, Work Based Learning and related topics. If you would like all of this information in one document you can reference that here. The below documents are broken into three different categories; CTE Funding Guidance, CTE Montana Career Pathways, Montana Work Based Learning.

 

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Career and Technical Student Organization State Directors

Lisa Parker, BPA State Director (406) 579-3697

John Stiles, DECA State Director (406) 209-4490

Tracey Eatherton, FCCLA State Director (406) 229-2017

Jim Rose, FFA State Director (406) 994-7050

Katie Meier, HOSA State Director (406) 868-9445

Roberta Tilleman, SkillsUSA State Director (406) 868-3489

Jesse Gray, TSA State Directors (406) 676-3390 ext. 7553