Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced the expansion of career-technical education and the introduction of new Career Pathway Support Networks, aiming to provide students with access to in-demand skills and better preparation for life after high school. The announcement was made on X.
“Our continued support of expanding career-technical education and career planning for our students is an investment in Ohio’s future,” said Mike Dewine. “By creating Career Pathway Support Networks, more students will be able to access the in-demand skills and experiences they need to be successful after high school and reach their full potential.”
The Ohio Career Pathway Support Network Grant, unveiled in mid-October 2025, allocates $7.1 million to establish seven regional networks aligned with JobsOhio regions, replacing Tech Prep centers. Implementation is set to begin in fall 2025, with steering committees guiding each region. According to a release from the Ohio Governor’s Office, these grants are intended to expand career-connected learning and advising across the state.
Ohio’s career-technical education (CTE) program is significant, with 141,503 secondary participants and 108,521 postsecondary participants in the 2023–24 academic year. The Association for Career and Technical Education’s June 2025 Ohio fact sheet reports that 39% of CTE students earned one or more in-demand industry credentials in 2024. Additionally, Ohio received $52.7 million in fiscal year 2025 federal Perkins funding.
The state’s CTE concentrator four-year graduation rate stands at 96.4%, closely aligning with the national rate of 96.62% reported for 2023. This indicates that Ohio’s CTE students graduate at rates comparable to the national average for concentrators, according to data from Ohio ACTE and the U.S. Department of Education’s Perkins national profile.
Governor DeWine is serving as Ohio’s 70th governor, having first taken office on January 14, 2019, and being re-elected for a term starting January 8, 2023. His previous roles include serving as Ohio’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, U.S. Senator from 1995 to 2007, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. Representative, and Greene County Prosecutor. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University and a Juris Doctor degree from Ohio Northern University as noted by the National Governors Association biography.
