CareerTech surpasses enrollment goal

Oklahoma CareerTech has exceeded its five-year goal for K-12 enrollment more than two years ahead of schedule, CareerTech State Director Brent Haken told state House lawmakers Monday.

In 2023, CareerTech set a target to grow K-12 enrollments from 138,000 to 150,000 by 2028. That goal was surpassed in fiscal year 2025, with more than 151,000 Oklahoma students participating in CareerTech programs in middle, junior high and high schools across Oklahoma.

Haken said the growth reflects an ongoing effort to add programs and resources for K-12 schools and a strong demand for career readiness education among students, parents, educators and employers. CareerTech recently added 280 new career readiness programs in K-12 schools, thanks to additional funding for fiscal year 2024, Haken said.

“When we talk about what makes a change in Oklahoma’s education system; it’s getting to students early and often,” Haken told lawmakers during an interim study led by District 47 Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang. “Oklahoma CareerTech has become a cornerstone of workforce development in our schools. This milestone shows that Oklahoma is leading the way nationally in integrating career training into K-12 education.”

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The increase in K-12 enrollments comes as Oklahoma continues to align its education and workforce initiatives to meet the needs of a rapidly changing economy. CareerTech’s early achievement of this goal underscores the state’s commitment to equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce.

In fiscal 2025, which ended June 30, Oklahoma CareerTech recorded an 84% increase in the number of fifth graders participating in a CareerTech program, Haken said.

“This is one of our fastest growing areas, and it’s going to continue to grow,” he said. “Our STEM division is really diving into fifth grade and making sure they have what they need.”

Haken said CareerTech’s partnerships with local school districts, businesses and industry leaders have fueled the growth, expanding opportunities for students to explore pathways in fields such as health care, information technology, construction, agriculture and manufacturing.

CareerTech is the state’s hub for registered apprenticeships. Haken said the agency is expanding those opportunities through CareerTech apprenticeships by partnering with organizations such as the Regional University System of Oklahoma. The goal is to provide a statewide program and to facilitate apprenticeships offered under the U.S. Department of Labor’s registered apprenticeship program.

“This is really a pilot for what the state can do in the area of apprenticeships,” Haken said. “We need to have more industry-recognized certificates ready for our Oklahoma businesses. We are an education for businesses. That’s how we’re built. The students that we turn out are our product. We’re very mindful of what our economy needs.”

In fiscal 2024, Oklahoma CareerTech students earned 34,771 industry-endorsed certifications, up 58% from 21,890 in fiscal 2023.

“Those certificates go through a committee in our office to make sure they are aligned and signed off by an industry,” Haken said.

Also, more than 122,000 Oklahoma students developed leadership and career skills as members of Oklahoma CareerTech student organizations in fiscal 2025, setting an all-time high for the fourth consecutive year. Membership, Haken said, is outgrowing much larger states per capita.

“Students need to be motivated to come to school,” he told lawmakers. “This is our fix to that. Every student that comes through our doors must be afforded the opportunity to be a part of a CareerTech student organization. It’s the way we make sure they have soft skills and skills that keep them in jobs.”

Haken credited teachers, administrators and local CareerTech centers for driving the success.

“This growth doesn’t happen by accident,” he said. “It’s the result of educators who believe in the power of hands-on learning and communities that see the value of preparing students for both college and career.”