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New eBook Shares Guidelines on Building CTE Centers

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/13/25

Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum and resources provider iCEV recently announced the publication of a new eBook sharing guidance and insights on building new CTE facilities, according to a news release. “Building High-Impact CTE Centers: Lessons from District Leaders” offers practical insights, best practices, and advice from industry professionals and K–12 school districts on how to meet local and community needs regarding workforce development.

“CTE programs evolve very quickly and you always want to make sure you have a space that is equipped to change with them,” said iCEV CEO Dusty Moore. “So many districts are looking to open centers and this e-book can help them determine how to create learning spaces that can adapt to what the community needs in the future.”

The book streamlines the process of developing a new CTE center, from the planning phase through recruiting staff members. Sections include:

  • Funding a CTE Center, featuring information on bonds and grants
  • Building a New CTE Center, which includes planning considerations, meeting CTE pathway requirements, allowing for future readiness, and integrating technology
  • Converting an Existing Space into a CTE Center, which addresses renovation considerations and advice specific to repurposing outdated facilities
  • CTE Centers in a Rural or Urban Setting, which places planning considerations into the context of the community.

“One of the questions to ask when redesigning spaces for a CTE center is, ‘How is it going to be different?’” said Mike Montgomery, natural resources teacher with Littleton Public Schools. “If it’s just labs they did at their high school, why are students going to come here? It has to be different, and you have to identify opportunities to get students out of the classroom and into situations where they’re doing work that is relevant and meaningful.”

The book also features case studies from projects in Culpepper County Public Schools in Virginia, Montgomery ISD in Texas, the Payette River Technical Academy in Idaho, Littleton Public Schools in Colorado, and Roanoke City Public Schools in Virginia.

The book is available on the iCEV website.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

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