Tennessee Marks Career Development Month with Focus on Technical

This November, Tennessee is going all out celebrating Career Development Month, focusing on career and technical education (CTE) programs that arm students with the skills needed to tackle high-skill, high-demand careers and further education. Gov. Bill Lee proclaimed his support for the initiative, emphasizing the state’s dedication to preparing a skilled workforce, according to the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE). The month-long recognition also includes Early Postsecondary Opportunity (EPSO) Week, slated for November 10–14.

With the help of social media, Tennesseans can plug into the celebrations using hashtags like #CareerDevelopmentMonth, #EPSOWeek2025, and #AcceleratingTN. This digital engagement is designed to bolster awareness of the myriad career development activities that students across the state are involved in. Gov. Lee’s statement conveyed the state’s intent for these initiatives: “From the GIVE Act to our historic investment in Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, our highly-skilled workforce makes the Volunteer State a destination for top global companies and high-quality jobs, and we are grateful to provide opportunity for all Tennesseans.” Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education, added that the goal was to ensure every student is equipped for independence and triumph on whichever path they choose after graduation, as per the TDOE announcement.

The TDOE’s four strategic initiatives—Credentials of Value, Individualized Advising, Seamless Transitions, and Work-Based Learning (WBL)—are key players in their endeavor to modernize high school experiences and guarantee student success post-graduation. To buttress Tennessee CTE and these initiatives, the FutureReadyTN Roadshows took place in October, drawing more than 400 educators, industry partners, and policymakers to foster the state’s vision for postsecondary and workforce readiness.

Significant milestones report by the TDOE for the 2024–25 school year show marked improvements in CTE programs, access, and student engagement across middle and high schools. There was an uptick in middle school students participating in CTE programs, boasting 46,139 enrollees in 165 districts and public charter schools. The growth trajectory for WBL credit attainment continued for the seventh year, reaching 51,427 WBL credits over the previous year’s 43,435, as the TDOE reported. Beyond that, student participation in EPSOs soared with over 221,000 course enrollments, and the membership of Tennessee career and technical student organizations expanded by six percent, totaling 70,694 members. Plus, 42 districts reported they upped their career coaching staff to bolster student readiness around EPSOs, credentials of value, and WBL experiences.

Find comprehensive details about Tennessee’s CTE programs and its efforts in the Postsecondary, Workforce, CTE, and Military Readiness Overview report, which is up for grabs on the TDOE’s website.