ACTE Postsecondary CTE Summit 2026

Unacceptably high stop-out rates. Declining enrolment. Growing cynicism in the ROI of post-secondary education. Increasing accountability for higher completion rates and stronger employment outcomes… the pressures on the postsecondary system are immense. Employers and jobseekers are equally dissatisfied with the current state.

Attacking the symptoms has not improved outcomes. What if, in our haste to address the cracks in the system, we’ve overlooked the root of the issue?

In this session, we will discuss how embedding an intensely person-centric approach creates a shared language, builds trust and engagement, surfaces surprising options for consideration, connects workforce development to economic development seamlessly, and has built thriving talent pipelines for employers. The opportunity? Positioning postsecondary institutions at the center of the communities they serve, building a web of relationships (and an infrastructure) that draw together sources of Talent (‘Supply’) and Employers (‘Demand’) in innovative ways to align and connect systems that have historically operated independently. Group Sponsorship (in Apprenticeship) is one enticing opportunity many have not considered, and there are many others. 

We will present live case studies and projects drawn from different industries and stakeholders in the employment ecosystem, including employers, industry associations and educational institutions. These examples will illustrate how rethinking the fundamentals of how and where we connect with young people, how we package the message, and how we position the opportunity can lead to astonishing outcomes.

The common thread in those examples uncovers a paradox: The ‘fix’ for these gnarly systemic issues doesn’t lie in trying to address those issues directly; instead, it lies in shifting our focus to the individuals we serve and leaning into the leading indicators of strengths, aptitude and potential that fuel not only stronger outcomes for the individual, but also higher completion rates and better employment outcomes.