Announcements

Upcoming Deadlines

Perkins Grant Cash Draw Downs should be started districts need to submit requests by 25th of each month for next month’s payments this should be done a minimum of quarterly.


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
 
 

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. 

Sessions - 4:00-5:00 pm 

  • Wednesday, Jan 21
  • Wednesday, Jan 28
  • Wednesday, Feb 4th
  • Wednesday, Feb 18th
  • Tuesday, March 3rd 
  • Tuesday, March 17th

Earn up to 6 PD units towards licensure -- Sign up using this Google Form

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

 

Upcoming CTE Webinars This Spring

 

Virtual Photonics Training Series

  • Date: February 17th, 2026 Time: 4:30–6:00 p.m. (MT)  Credit: 1.5 OPI Renewal Unit
  • Date: March 3rd, 2026 Time: 4:30–6:00 p.m. (MT)  Credit: 1.5 OPI Renewal Unit

Keep an eye out for two upcoming virtual training sessions focused on the exciting and fast-growing field of photonics—the science of light and its applications in technologies like lasers, fiber optics, imaging, and communications. Photonics is an emerging industry in Montana, creating new opportunities for students to connect science, technology, and industry innovation. 

Each 1.5-hour webinar will feature ready-to-use lesson plans to help educators introduce photonics concepts in their classrooms and will include guest speakers from the photonics industry. Educators who attend both sessions will earn 3 OPI renewal units.

Register Here!

 

CodeHS invites you to join the Developing AI Literacy webinar on January 27th from 4:30-5:30pm MT.

Equip yourself with strategies to teach students about AI, its workings, limitations, and societal impact. This concise hour long webinar guides educators on fostering AI literacy, preparing students for a tech-driven future. You can register for the webinar here [us02web.zoom.us], and view other free PD opportunities from CodeHS here [codehs.com]. 

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