CASE Conf 2025

Sessions Speakers Exhibitors Products Press Releases Show Specials Floor Plan

High School Career and Technical Education Admissions Best Practices (Room 209 A second floor)

The United States is experiencing a skilled labor shortage and persons with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed as persons without a disability. Come learn how inclusion, access, equity and diversity in Career Technical Education (CTE) admissions can help alleviate our labor shortage and provide opportunities for IDEA students. “The Strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) emphasizes the development of employability skills of all students through CTE programs, including special populations, such as individuals with disabilities (Cai, 2019).” Missouri high school students, with special needs, that attend CTE are 20% more likely to graduate and have a 25% higher post placement rate than students with disabilities that do not attend CTE. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has developed a CTE Special Populations Task Force that is working to ensure inclusion, access, equity and diversity in CTE. High school CTE should have an enrollment process that is consistent for all students and does not create unnecessary barriers or burdens for students from special populations. The Missouri CTE Special Populations Task Force has developed a best practices document for CTE admission criteria and program prerequisites. Come and preview the High School CTE Admissions Best Practices document, learn about current admissions criteria that are being challenged, what the data says about the impact of CTE on IDEA students, and accommodations and modifications in CTE.