|
January 2026
This newsletter will be published monthly to keep North Dakota’s educators and career readiness leaders informed about the latest resources, opportunities, and updates—ensuring strong support for students on their path to college and career success.
|
|
College & Career Readiness News in North Dakota
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) and the North Dakota Career and Technical Education (CTE) have expanded efforts to align K–12 education with high-demand careers. Dual credit enrollment has notably increased, allowing high school students to earn college credit through partnerships with higher education institutions.
Collaborations between Job Service North Dakota, industry leaders, and colleges aim to strengthen apprenticeship and internship programs. The state is prioritizing careers in cybersecurity, construction trades, and healthcare to address ongoing labor shortages.
New data from NDDPI shows that North Dakota K–12 students are making gains in college and career preparation—a positive sign that strategies focused on graduating students who are Choice Ready (prepared for college and career) are working.
Valley City State University (VCSU) has been selected to lead the North Dakota Network for Personalized Learning, a statewide initiative designed to expand student engagement and innovative instruction across K–12 and higher education. Compass, a career platform supported by a strategic innovation grant, will connect North Dakota University System schools, employers, and students with personalized career planning tools. RUReady.ND.gov continues to enhance career exploration resources, including VR-based experiences, to help middle and high school students explore career paths in a more immersive way.
North Dakota has also joined a national coalition—Complete College America—to improve college completion rates by aligning higher education with workforce needs and helping students earn credentials of value.
Celebrate Career & Technical Education Month – February 2026
February 2026 marks Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in North Dakota! This year’s theme—Level Up with CTE: Skills That Pay Off—invites students, educators, and communities to celebrate how hands-on learning and real-world experiences prepare students for success.
CTE Month showcases the many ways career-focused education connects students to high-demand, high-wage careers across our state. From agriculture and healthcare to construction, IT, business, and beyond, North Dakota’s CTE programs equip students with technical and employability skills that matter in the classroom and the workforce.
To learn more, explore the full list of CTE program areas, Career Development programs, and Work-based Learning.
|
Career and Technical Student Organizations
Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) play a vital role in developing leadership skills, provide experiences that strengthen teamwork, communication, and career readiness skills that pay off in any profession preparing individuals for success in the workforce.
To learn more about CTSOs and how they are aligned to support CTE programs, click here.
Join the Statewide “Level Up with CTE” Photo Campaign
Schools across North Dakota are encouraged to participate in a statewide social media photo campaign by posting pictures of CTE students, educators, and industry partners in action. Show us how you’re leveling up with CTE—whether it’s hands-on learning in the classroom or applying skills in real-world experiences. Photos shared throughout February will be highlighted to showcase the incredible work happening in CTE programs statewide.
Visit our CTE Month 2026 | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education website to find all the graphics you need, including a photo prop printable graphic, a calendar of suggested CTE Month activities, a background for virtual meetings, and a logo for your signature line.
CTE Month Calendar of Events
To make participation easy, a CTE Month Calendar of Events is available with weekly themes and daily activity ideas to help schools celebrate and demonstrate how classroom learning connects to real-world careers—and how CTE skills truly pay off.
Let’s Level Up—Together
North Dakota’s CTE programs empower students by building confidence, developing technical and employability skills, and preparing them for successful futures. February 2026 is our chance to tell that story—and share the opportunities.
We invite every secondary school in the state to join the celebration, share their CTE stories, and help students Level Up with CTE: Skills That Pay Off. Let’s make CTE Month 2026 a statewide celebration of skills, success, and opportunity!
Career Resource Virtual Workshops
Did you miss a virtual training offered by the Career Resource area of CTE—or need a quick refresher? Good news! All sessions were recorded and are available on the CTE website.
You can view recordings of workshops such as:
- RUReady.ND.gov QuickStart
-
Assignment & Curriculum Builder (within RUReady)
-
CareerViewXR: Bringing immersive career exploration into your classroom
-
The Compass System in RUReady.ND.gov: Supporting four-year rolling plans, career exploration, work-based learning, and employer connections
- Methodize ACT Test Prep in RUReady.ND.gov
Additional virtual workshops on career education and planning topics will be offered throughout the school year, so check back often.
Have an idea for a workshop on a specific RUReady topic? Email your suggestions to Laura Glasser, Career Resource Manager.
|
|
 Students Explore Colleges, Programs, and Pathways in Compass
Through the online platform Compass, accessible via RUReadyND.gov, students can explore employers, careers, and the colleges, programs, and pathways that lead to those opportunities.
Currently, high school students can access six postsecondary schools in Compass: Bismarck State College, Mayville State University, North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota State University in Fargo, Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and Lynnes Welding Training in Fargo. Students can learn about each college’s amenities and highlighted programs, while Compass connects career profiles, companies, and college programs to show how everything fits together.
Thanks to a grant from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), seven additional North Dakota postsecondary schools will soon be added. The North Dakota University System (NDUS) received this grant to provide Compass access to all 11 of its institutions. This expansion means every North Dakota student will have Compass access from middle school through college graduation. Their profiles will follow them throughout their journey, allowing them to update classes, activities, and interests; track work-based learning experiences; save favorite career profiles; and maintain employer connections.
Read the press release for more details about the NDUS grant initiative here.
For more information, contact Golden Path Solutions.
New State Workforce Website Coming Soon
The Governor’s Workforce Subcabinet was established in June 2025 to revamp North Dakota’s workforce system and strengthen coordination among key sectors. Its mission is to develop unified goals and metrics for the state’s workforce initiatives, with representation from the Governor’s Office, K–12 and postsecondary education, and state agencies leading workforce, economic development, and human services efforts.
The subcabinet is currently working to launch a new state workforce website. Once live, this site will serve as a one-stop resource for employers, job seekers, and partners, providing easy access to workforce programs and services across North Dakota.
|
Time to Apply for Scholarships from ND Dollars for Scholars
North Dakota Dollars for Scholars is now accepting scholarship applications from North Dakota high school seniors and current college students through April 1, 2026. Approximately $290,000 in scholarships will be awarded, with individual awards ranging from $600 to $2,500 for the 2026–27 academic year.
Every student who graduated from or will graduate from a North Dakota high school is eligible to apply—even if their high school does not have a local Dollars for Scholars chapter.
How to Apply: Scholarship details and the online application are available at northdakota.dollarsforscholars.org. To apply and be matched to scholarships, students must create or update a profile in the online Student Center. This profile can also be used to explore future local, state, and national Dollars for Scholars opportunities.
Financial Literacy Made Easier
A free financial literacy website, SmartWithMyMoney.nd.gov, is now available through the ND Education Portal on PowerSchool. It offers resources that may help your school meet personal finance curriculum requirements as outlined in North Dakota Century Code § 15.1-21-21.
To make getting started simple, Bank of North Dakota (BND) created 10 lessons that align with the required personal finance concepts. Visit BND’s website to download the lessons today.
Contact us if you have any questions or feedback.
Expanding the Teacher Pipeline for Career-connected Coursework
Preparing students for college and career success remains a national priority. In December 2025, College Board and the Carnegie Foundation launched a joint initiative to expand the teacher pipeline for career-connected coursework. This effort aims to modernize certification pathways and pilot new professional learning models in high-demand fields. Together, the organizations are forming a multi-state coalition to co-design innovative certification routes and reimagine educator training and support for teaching high school courses that prepare students for college and careers.
We are excited to share that a North Dakota team, including representatives from CTE, NDDPI and ESPB have been invited to participate in this initiative.
|
|
 Gateway to Science and NDSU Partner to Expand STEM Education Statewide
North Dakota State University and North Dakota’s Gateway to Science have signed a new partnership to bring hands-on STEM learning to K–12 students across the state. Through mobile outreach programs and co-developed STEM activity kits, the initiative will focus on rural and underserved communities, offering immersive experiences in engineering and precision agriculture. This collaboration aims to spark curiosity, inspire future innovators, and strengthen North Dakota’s workforce.
Read the full article here.
Mission.io Brings Learning to Life in Classrooms
Imagine your students solving real-world problems in a high-stakes virtual mission—working together, thinking critically, and applying what they’ve learned in class. That’s the experience Mission.io brings to North Dakota classrooms, and thanks to a new partnership, it’s completely free for educators across the state.
Mission.io transforms traditional lessons into immersive, classroom-wide simulations where students collaborate to tackle real-world challenges while applying academic standards. Through a partnership with NDDPI, North Dakota-specific standards are already integrated into the platform, making it easy to align missions with your curriculum.
To get an invite or to add your account to the North Dakota STEM Opportunity License, email Brooks Heder.
Final Choice Ready Data for 2024-25
The final 2024-25 school accountability reports, including Choice Ready results, are now publicly available on the state’s Insights dashboard. The Choice Ready rate increased to 73.17%.
Additional Choice Ready data:
A special “kudos” to the following schools:
- View the top 20 schools with highest Choice Ready rate here.
- View the top five schools with the highest Choice Ready rate in the ten largest districts here.
|
|
Career Readiness Checklist for K–12 Educators
Help students build the skills they need for success after graduation. ACT’s Career Readiness Checklist for Educators provides practical steps and resources for integrating career readiness into your school’s curriculum.
This checklist is designed to support educators in building meaningful career readiness activities that align with real-world expectations. Use it as a guide when developing your high school career readiness plan to help students confidently take their next steps.
VCSU to Lead Statewide Personalized Learning Initiative
Valley City State University has been selected as the intermediary for the North Dakota Network for Personalized Learning, a $1 million statewide effort to advance innovation and student engagement across K–12 and higher education. The initiative will connect educators and leaders to co-design strategies, share best practices, and scale learner-centered approaches that prepare every student to graduate choice ready.
Read the full article here.
Join NDDPI’s Monthly Secondary Transition Talks
NDDPI is hosting monthly Secondary Transition Talks designed for high school special education teachers. These sessions provide valuable information about resources and services offered by outside agencies within the state. The goal is to strengthen interagency collaboration and improve student outcomes after graduation.
Session dates (3–4 p.m. CST):
- Feb. 10, 2026
- March 10, 2026
- April 14, 2026
- May 12, 2026
Register here through the Educational Hub. You can attend the live sessions or view the recordings at your convenience. By completing all six sessions, you can earn three hours toward a credit.
|
ACT Fee Waivers: Removing Barriers to College Access
Cost should never be a barrier to college readiness. The ACT Fee Waiver Program provides eligible students with up to two free ACT tests, plus benefits like free test prep resources, score reports to colleges, and college application fee waivers at participating institutions.
Impact at a Glance:
- In FY2025, more than 210,000 students benefited from fee waivers.
- Historically, 1 in 5 ACT registrations nationwide use a waiver.
Fee waivers help remove financial barriers, promote equity, and give students the chance to improve scores and expand college and scholarship opportunities. Yet in North Dakota, usage remains low—only 10.2% of issued waivers resulted in test scores for 2024–25.
Visit ACT.org for details and resources.
ND Joins National College Completion Alliance
North Dakota has officially joined the Complete College America (CCA) Alliance, a national coalition dedicated to helping more students earn degrees and credentials of value. This move aligns with the state’s goal to increase postsecondary attainment to 65% by 2025 and prepare for a future where 71% of jobs will require education beyond high school. Membership brings access to proven strategies, data-driven policies, and national collaboration to strengthen workforce readiness.
Read the full article here.
ND Educational Hub
Educators can find FREE professional development opportunities using the Educational Hub. NDDPI's Office of Specially Designed Services (SPED) offers free professional development opportunities to general and special educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, and related service providers. Once you have created an account, click Statewide Professional Development, then SPED, to view these courses.
|
|
|
|
|
