02/24/2026
February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month!
We’re proud to celebrate Career & Technical Education as a critical part of Maryland’s education ecosystem and Pillar 3 of the Blueprint — equipping students with real-world skills, credentials, and pathways to rewarding careers.
Under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, Maryland has set a bold goal: by the 2030–31 school year, 45% of college- and career-ready (CCR) students will earn a high-value industry-recognized credential or complete the high-school level of a registered apprenticeship — a measurable step toward stronger economic opportunity for young people and a more competitive workforce.
The Blueprint-aligned modernized CTE framework touches nearly half of Maryland’s students — with more than 136,000 learners enrolled in CTE courses and over 45,000 concentrators completing pathways that lead to credentials, college credit, and workplace readiness.
These milestones reflect growing demand for CTE seats and increased emphasis on credentials that matter to students and employers alike — from industry certifications to apprenticeships and work-based learning experiences.
We celebrate CTE Month by recognizing the educators, partners, and students making these pathways possible — aligning education with careers and strengthening Maryland’s economic future.
Learn more about CTE on the Pillar 3 page of the AIB website: https://aib.maryland.gov/explore-blueprint/Pages/Pillar3.aspx
The goal of Pillar 3 is that Maryland has an empirically based CCR standard that reflects readiness for postsecondary education and training; and an education system designed to ensure that all students who enter school ready to learn can reach this standard by the end of 10th grade, and no later th...
