The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education asked state lawmakers Wednesday for a $19.3 million increase in state funding to add or expand career training programs and help meet the employment demands of Oklahoma businesses and industries.
Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken submitted a budget request of $211,801,505 for fiscal year 2026, a 10% increase over CareerTech’s fiscal 2025 state appropriation.
Haken said $41.65 million would be used to add or expand career training programs in a wide range of industries, including $10.95 million for health careers, $9.9 million for construction trades and $8.3 million for manufacturing. He said $12.5 million would be used to add 37 new career programs in other areas, including agriculture, public safety and STEM.
“Oklahoma’s workforce is the backbone of our economy, and CareerTech is at the forefront of preparing individuals for high-demand careers,” Haken said. “By increasing state funding for career training programs, we can expand opportunities for Oklahomans, equip businesses with skilled employees and ensure our state remains competitive in a rapidly evolving job market. Investing in CareerTech is an investment in Oklahoma’s future.”
CareerTech training programs account for just 4% of state appropriations for public and higher education, Haken said. The Oklahoma Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education account for 76% and 20%, respectively.
“Last year, we turned out 25,000 certificates for people to go to work, and we did that with fewer dollars than any CareerTech system in the country,” Haken told lawmakers. “If you include all of the ad valorem that goes to technology centers and all of the federal dollars, we are still less than 10% of the education budget as a whole.”
CareerTech’s budget request also calls for $3.5 million to increase support for new CareerTech programs in K-12 school districts, $1 million to expand technology center programs into areas of the state not currently served by a tech center, and $450,000 for increased transition services to accommodate a growing number of inmates completing career training programs and entering the workforce.
Through a network of 29 technology centers, 395 PK-12 school districts, 16 skills centers sites and 32 adult education and family literacy providers, Oklahoma CareerTech enrollments totaled 520,733 in fiscal year 2024, up 6.35% compared with fiscal 2023. CareerTech’s positive placement rate was 94% in 2023, which means nearly all CareerTech graduates found employment, entered the military or continued their education.
In fiscal 2024, more than 44% of all ninth through 12th graders in the state participated in a CareerTech program.
With additional funding, Haken said, CareerTech programs can be expanded across the state and more people could be added to Oklahoma’s pipeline of skilled workers.
“I’m confident that CareerTech can show that we are the most efficient way to get people trained and to work,” he 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 62 campuses, 395 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.
