Career and Technical Education Summit

0gHBgY1m9hk

Nov. 19-20, 2024 | Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West Hotel, Plymouth, MN

The CTE Summit is Minnesota's largest conference convening career and technical education educators, leaders, community partners, workforce, and business and industry in K-12 and higher education. We bring together practitioners to share impactful strategies to close the equity gaps for career and technical education learners.

The Summit is broad in scope to be inclusive of all the partners in career and technical education that support the Minnesota Perkins V State Plan goals and key focus areas. Concurrent session presentation topics may include:

  • college preparedness
  • career readiness
  • employer engagement
  • workforce development
  • diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • legislation and policy
  • accountability
  • partnerships
  • teaching and learning
  • artificial intelligence
  • Neurodivergent learners (in education or the workplace)
  • addressing special population learners

Successful proposals strive to: 

  • Address current issues and trends impacting career and technical education, specifically the key focus areas in the Minnesota Perkins V State Plan.
  • Be bold. Bold is courageous, able to take risks, and confident. 
  • Expand people’s thinking—what hasn’t this audience heard or considered?
  • Be practical and actionable. What can I implement right now?

Additional Call for Proposal Details

  • You may submit up to two (2) proposals.
  • Concurrent sessions are 50 minutes.
  • If your proposal is academic and research based, please include citations of previous scholarly work in your submission.
  • If accepted, you will be assigned a time slot at the discretion of the conference organizers.
  • If your proposal is accepted, all presenters/co-presenters must register for the Summit and pay a discounted registration fee ($75) per person. This fee includes panelists.
  • If a panelist is a high school or undergraduate college student, the presenter registration fee ($75) will be waived.
  • All presenters, including student presenters, must pay for their own travel and lodging costs and other incidental expenses.
  • We are looking for presentations that are inclusive and diverse. Note that diversity is defined and measured in many ways, including but not limited to gender and gender identity, geographic location, socio-economic background, perspective, age, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Evaluation Criteria 

See a detailed description of the rubric and evaluation criteria.

  1. The quality of the abstract and description.
  2. Innovation – the potential to introduce new, bold, or innovative ideas, or solutions.
  3. Inclusive and diverse perspectives or approaches.
  4. Learning outcomes are clearly articulated.
  5. Relevance to career and technical education.

Priority will be given to proposals that support and align with the Minnesota Perkins V State Plan focus areas.

Deadlines and Important Dates

  • Submission deadline is Friday, August 9, 2024.
  • Acceptance notifications will be sent by Friday, August 23, 2024.

Download a printer-friendly PDF version of the Call for Proposal announcement.

Submit a proposal


Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West Hotel
3131 Campus Drive
Plymouth, MN 55441

Standard/double guest rooms $112.00 (Taxes applied during check out)

How to reserve your room

  1. Click on the reservation link below
  2. You will be redirected to the hotel reservation page.
  3. Enter the check-in/check out dates (Nov. 18, 19 or 20), then click on BOOK.
  4. Your next screen should show the discounted rate at $112 per room.
  5. If you have trouble or don't see the correct rate, call the front desk at (763) 559-6600.

Reserve your room

A special link for conference participants will be added soon. Please do not call the hotel. All reservations with a discounted rate must be made here using the special CTE Summit hotel reservation link.

About Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, Plymouth

Nestled just off I-494, this destination places guests a mere 12 miles west of the vibrant heart of downtown Minneapolis, making it an ideal base for both leisure and business travelers. The hotel boasts a serene atmosphere with a selection of well-appointed rooms, each featuring a 42-inch flat-screen TV and complimentary WiFi access for all guests. A compact refrigerator in every room adds an extra layer of convenience, ensuring a pleasant and hassle-free stay.

  • Enjoy relaxation and rejuvenation in the large indoor pool and spa, offering a peaceful retreat.
  • Conveniently located just 24 miles from the Mall of America for shopping enthusiasts.
  • Easy access to Target Field, 18 miles away, perfect for sports fans.
  • A range of nearby dining options caters to diverse tastes and preferences.
  • Ample parking space, accommodating guests with personal vehicles.

 

 

Exhibitor Package $180

  • One standard exhibitor table with two chairs.
  • One power strip for laptops and table displays.
  • One mobile lab/trailer parking spot (outdoor space) next to the exhibit hall.
  • Admission for no more than two people. Hotel space is very limited.
  • Meals and refreshments provided as part of the conference.

Applications should demonstrate the following:

  • Relevance: Exhibitors should offer products, services, or resources that are directly relevant to career and technical education that support student learning and engagement.
  • Target audience: The resources should address the needs and interests of the conference attendees, which may include educators, administrators, students, or industry professionals.
  • Innovation: Exhibitors showcasing innovative technologies and equipment, teaching and learning methods, or educational resources that can enhance the learning experience will be given priority.
  • Quality: Exhibitors should demonstrate a commitment to providing high-quality products, services, or resources that meet industry standards and best practices.
  • Interactivity: Exhibitors who offer interactive demonstrations, hands-on experiences, or engaging presentations that allow attendees to explore their offerings will be prioritized.
  • Educational value: Exhibitors should contribute to the overall educational value of the conference by providing informative materials and demonstrations that enhance attendees' knowledge and skills.

Deadlines and Important Dates

  • Applications opens Friday, May 10, 2024.
  • Application deadline is Friday, September 30, 2024.
  • Applications to exhibit are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Exhibitors will be notified within 2-3 weeks if their application has been accepted.

Apply to be an exhibitor

Download a printer-friendly PDF version of the Exhibitor Application announcement.

Exhibitor Application

For questions about your exhibitor application and status, contact Robb Lowe, Career Pathways Director at Robb.Lowe@minnstate.edu or (651) 201-1451.

 

QUESTION: I would like to submit an exhibitor application and a presentation proposal. Can I do both?

ANSWER: Yes, you may submit both for consideration. Presentation proposals are not designed to be sales pitches even if your resource is free. The decision to decline exhibitors as presenters are made at the discretion of the Summit organizers.

 

QUESTION: If I don't hear from anyone about my exhibitor application status, who should I contact?

ANSWER: You should contact robb.lowe@minnstate.edu.

 

QUESTION: What size are the exhibitor tables?

ANSWER: The answer for this will be posted soon. We're checking with the venue on exact measurements but we are told they are standard vendor tables.

 

QUESTION: I have a trailer/mobile lab as part of my exhibit. Can I drop it off the night before the conference? 

ANSWER: This will depend on the weather in November. If it snows heavily, the trailers/mobile labs will need to be parked further away from the hotel entrance and may be a farther walk for attendees. If there is not a lot of snow, the trailers/mobile labs will be parked closer alongside the exhibitor hall directly accessible to attendees. We will let you know as we get closer to the conference.


QUESTION: Will exhibitors be provided with a list of conference attendees?

ANSWER: Unfortunately, no. We do not provide email or contact information to exhibitors. However, everyone must sign up for the SCHED app to view the conference program. Exhibitors are encouraged to reach out to attendees through the SCHED app.

Keynote speakers will be added here soon. Please check back.

Who should attend?

This conference is open to educators and everyone serving students in career and technical education in secondary or higher education institutions, building business and industry partnerships to help students connect their educational and career aspirations, developing a strong workforce through education and career pathway partnerships, and preparing learners to enter high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand careers. You can expect to connect with the following audiences at the Summit:

  • Advising/Career Development
  • Adult Basic Education
  • Business/Industry or Employer
  • College faculty, administrators, and professional staff
  • Community Organizations
  • Corrections/Ex-Offender Transitions
  • Dual enrollment, PSEO, and Career Pathway partners
  • Secondary School teachers, administrators, and professional staff
  • Workforce Development partners

  • Workforce Development partners

     

 

Take a look at the types of sessions and offered in previous years.

2022 Program

2021 Program

2020 Program

2019 Program



 

CTE Summit Contact

Yingfah Thao
Director of Professional Development
Career and Technical Education | Academic Affairs Division
yingfah.thao@minnstate.edu
(651) 201-1681


Perkins and CTE

The Perkins V Act, also known as the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, represents a significant federal commitment to ensuring the strength and accessibility of career and technical education (CTE) programs nationwide. Enacted in 2018, it authorizes nearly $1.4 billion annually to support these programs, fostering a skilled and prepared future workforce.

CTE stands for Career and Technical Education. These are programs offered by schools and colleges that focus on giving students the skills and knowledge they need for specific careers. CTE programs can cover a wide range of fields, from healthcare and engineering to culinary arts and information technology.

Perkins refers to the Perkins V Act, a federal law that provides funding for CTE programs across the country.

About the Summit

This annual Summit has continued to serve secondary and postsecondary CTE teachers and faculty, educators, administrators, workforce, community partners, and business/industry partners since 2009. It has continued to grow over the years into the premier conference connecting the career and technical education community in the Upper Midwest. Participants and presenters alike come from high school, colleges and universities, workforce, local business and industry partners, and our local communities to convene once a year to share best practices in their field, network, and continue to develop their professional development in order to best serve CTE students across the state.

Our Partners

Our partners in career and technical education include MDE, Northern Agricultural Minnesota State Center of Excellence known as AgCentric, Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence, Energy Center of Excellence, Engineering Center of Excellence, HealthForce Center of Excellence, IT Center of Excellence, Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, Transportation Center of Excellence, Minnesota ACTE, a local professional organization with members from education, administration, and other CTE professionals.

The Summit and any contents of this website and related materials were developed under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 1st Century Act (Perkins V) federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education.