|By Gale Staff|
As a Career Technical Education (CTE) director, you understand the mounting pressure today’s students face to succeed in college, career, and life. Rising expectations around college and career readiness are driving the need for strong career and technical education (CTE) programs—especially as 83% of recent high school graduates say they wish they’d learned more general life skills.
Navigating which CTE resources align with your district’s funding pathway shouldn’t be a guessing-game. You currently have a unique opportunity to leverage expanding funding options and digital resources to strengthen CTE programs and demonstrate clear return on investment (ROI). Discover how to maximize your district’s funding and improve student outcomes with supplemental enrichment solutions from Cengage School.
Why CTE Digital Resources Matter for Modern Programs
Research shows clear, measurable gains from high-quality CTE programs. Schools with robust CTE pathways see higher graduation rates, increased post-secondary enrollment, and improved career earnings. One study from Advance CTE saw a 20% boost in graduation rates in schools with quality CTE programs. Additional research also found that over 75% of students taking a concentration of CTE courses enroll in post-secondary education after graduating high school. The demonstrated impact on students’ long-term success emphasizes the significant role CTE can play in closing college and career readiness gaps.
According to the U.S Chamber of Commerce and College Board, 94% of hiring managers say they prioritize critical thinking and problem-solving skills for prospective entry-level employees. Digital CTE resources help bridge gaps between traditional instruction and workforce-ready skills, supporting labor market data, accountability, and real-world skill-building.
Understanding the Funding Landscape
Understanding how digital resources align with Perkins V, ESSA, and state CTE funding can feel complex. This simplified overview highlights common allowable uses.
Perkins V
- Developing programs of study
- Expanding professional development opportunities
- Improving equity and access
- Strengthening career exploration
- Collecting and analyzing data
ESSA
ESSA Funds Support Titles, Including:
- Title I, II, IV-A, IV-B for enrichment and low-income support
State-Specific CTE Funding Streams
Some States Fund CTE Resources That Support:
- Equipment, technology, and instructional materials
- CTE innovation and modernization
- Credential attainment
- Rural and equity-focused access
How Cengage School CTE and CCR Resources Help You Maximize Funding
According to Cengage research, 48% of recent college grads say they feel unprepared to apply for entry-level roles, with only 30% of 2025 grads securing jobs related to their degree. Cengage School offers funding-aligned, digital CTE resources that can help close these increasingly common career readiness gaps. Supplemental digital resources from Cengage School are specifically designed to enhance high school CTE pathways with career-connected content.
Cengage School CTE Programs:
- Align to industry standards
- Support built-in differentiation
- Equip teachers with resources
- Report outcomes to show Perkins V compliance
- Integrate with existing platforms
Supplemental Resources for High School Students
Cengage School offers support across multiple CTE clusters, including business, health science, STEM, and skilled trades. Supplemental enrichment solutions provide high-quality, digital-first content that equips students with transferable, work-ready skills. These resources are ideal for use in:
- CTE electives
- Work-based learning preparation
- Advisory periods and career readiness blocks
- Remediation and enrichment
- Credential preparation support
These features allow districts to use Cengage School resources under Perkins V, ESSA, ESSER, and most state digital learning or CTE innovation grants.
Putting It All Together: Steps for CTE Directors to Secure Funding
As a CTE director, you can take the following steps to secure funding:
- Identify your program’s gaps using local labor market data and readiness indicators.
- Map your needs to specific allowable uses under Perkins V or state funding guidance.
- Connect resource features (like those from Cengage School) directly to funding language.
- Use your CCR stats to build a strong data-driven justification
- Prepare a “funding justification packet” including outcomes, usage models, and state-aligned goals.
- Collaborate with finance directors and grant coordinators early.
A Pivotal Moment for CTE Leaders
To help students prepare for whatever comes next, it’s critical that districts leverage digital CTE resources using available Perkins V, ESSA, and state grants. Digital CTE resources are not only essential in helping boost students’ preparedness levels, but they’re also scalable and fundable. All students deserve the opportunity to succeed—let’s ensure they’re ready for the future.
Ready to learn more about supplemental enrichment solutions from Cengage School? Explore available resources or connect with your Gale Representative for more information.
