Oklahoma CareerTech’s systemwide enrollments increased 6.5% to 521,612 in fiscal 2024, a byproduct of adding more than 240 CareerTech programs in Oklahoma school districts and increased funding for career readiness training.
But that’s not the end of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education’s story.
During Thursday’s meeting of the State Board of Career and Technology Education, Oklahoma CareerTech officials announced a goal to increase systemwide enrollments another 15% to a record high of 599,854 in fiscal 2029.
That includes increasing PK-12 enrollments 10% from 143,114 to 157,425 and full-time secondary technology center enrollments 25% from 20,396 to 25,495.
Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken said the goal is ambitious but realistic and is based on a series of moves to make career and technology education more available to students, including new graduation requirements that promote career readiness.
“These goals reflect both the increasing recognition of CareerTech’s value and the essential role it plays in addressing Oklahoma’s workforce needs,” Haken said. “We’re confident enrollments in CareerTech programs will continue trending upward, considering we’ve added new programs and are modifying graduation requirements to include career training. Our schools are committed to meeting our state’s needs and are focused on maximizing state investments.”
Other goals include increasing earned industry endorsed credentials by 10%, CareerTech student organization members by 5%, adult and career development enrollments by 10% and workforce and economic development enrollments by 10%.
CareerTech also aims to increase Skills Centers full-time completion rate from 44% to 70% and increase adult education and family literacy enrollments 30%, along with serving more state businesses with increased industry specific training and internships.
“Expanding access to career readiness programs is critical to meeting the demands of Oklahoma’s labor market and ensuring students are prepared for both a career and college,” Haken said.
Oklahoma CareerTech: Education that works for you
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 60 campuses, 397 PK-12 school districts, 16 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.
