Vermont students would get broader access to hands‑on career training

Vermont students could get broader access to hands-on career training under S.313, a bill that has passed both chambers and now awaits the governor’s signature. The measure would expand career technical education statewide, ease barriers like transportation and scheduling, and push schools to help every graduate leave with a plan for work, college, military service or another next step.

The proposal centers on career technical education, or CTE, programs that combine classroom instruction with hands‑on learning tied to real occupations. Backers say those programs can help students earn industry credentials or college credit while still in school and give them a clearer transition into work, further study, military service, or apprenticeships after graduation.

Expanding access to career pathways

The bill calls for what lawmakers describe as universal access to CTE programs across Vermont so students are not limited by geography or by which school they attend. The goal is to make technical and career‑focused pathways available to far more students.

It also pushes schools to introduce career exploration earlier, beginning in middle school and continuing into the first years of high school. Along the way, educators and state officials would work to remove practical barriers that often keep students from enrolling, including transportation challenges, scheduling conflicts, and limited awareness of available programs.