Key Considerations for Evaluating Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs

Shaffer Evaluation Group partners with a wide range of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs supported by various grant initiatives, including the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), the Native American Career and Technical Education Program (NACTEP), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

When designing an evaluation strategy for CTE programs, consider the following two key factors:

Capture the Full Range of Program Impact

Outcome measures should reflect both short-term achievements and long-term impacts. While traditional metrics like completion rates, graduation rates, and post-program plans are essential, they only tell part of the story. To gain a deeper understanding of program effectiveness, collect data throughout the program’s duration. This might include:

• Surveys that track changes in participants’ beliefs, attitudes, and dispositions

• Measures of academic performance and engagement

• Insights into future educational or career plans

• Enrollment in additional training, educational programs, or courses

These broader indicators provide a more complete picture of how the program shapes participants’ trajectories.

Account for Attrition in Your Evaluation Design

Attrition is a reality in many CTE programs, so it’s crucial to build evaluation measures that reflect progress, even when participants don’t complete the full program. Consider tracking the following:

• Milestones toward program completion

• Course-level completion rates (e.g., percentage of students who finish individual courses)

• Endorsement or certification attainment

These metrics can demonstrate early wins and incremental progress, offering valuable insights into program effectiveness even when full completion isn’t achieved.

Final Thoughts about Evaluating Career and Technical Education Programs

Effective evaluation of CTE programs requires a thoughtful and flexible approach that captures both the breadth and depth of program impact. By incorporating diverse outcome measures and planning for participant attrition, evaluators can build a more accurate and resilient picture of program success. Whether you're working with DoDEA, NACTEP, NSF, or other grant-funded initiatives, these strategies help ensure your evaluation reflects the real-world progress and potential of your CTE efforts.

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Shaffer Evaluation Group is committed to helping programs tell their story through meaningful data. With the right tools and insights, your evaluation can do more than meet reporting requirements—it can illuminate the transformative power of CTE. Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation.

The headline in federal funding this year: Workforce development

Across federal agencies this year, Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) and Federal Register notices explicitly tie dollars to apprenticeships, work-based learning, and training pipelines through dedicated set-asides or invitational priorities. The signal is clear: the Administration plans to use grants to implement its workforce development strategy to Make America Skilled Again.

To that end, the U.S. departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education released on August 12 their blueprint to revamp the federal government’s approach to workforce development. The 27-page paper — “America’s Talent Strategy: Equipping American Workers for the Golden Age” — explains the plan is geared to “empower more Americans to access good-paying jobs, build pipelines of skilled talent for critical industries, prepare the workforce system for an AI-driven economy, and position the U.S. as the dominant global economic leader.”  The plan rests on five strategic pillars:

• Industry-Driven Strategies. This pillar calls for refocusing the workforce system on employer demand and national economic priorities. It aligns education and training with clearly defined career pathways, scales Registered Apprenticeships and other high-quality work-based learning, and targets federal investments to employer-led upskilling initiatives that address shortages in priority industries.

• Worker Mobility. This pillar aims to broaden labor-force participation and advancement by shifting from a “college-for-all” mindset to skills-first pathways. It promotes transparency about credentials valued in the labor market, integrates AI-enabled guidance and competency-based assessments so workers can advance based on demonstrated skills, and reconnects disengaged workers with training that leads to self-sufficiency and high-wage employment.

• Integrated Systems. This pillar seeks to replace today’s fragmented and duplicative programs with a streamlined, coordinated system that delivers unified services. It simplifies governance so states can braid funding streams and provide a single, clear access point for employers, and it advances structural consolidation through the Make America Skilled Again proposal and the reorganization of federal statistical functions within the Department of Commerce.

• Accountability. This pillar requires that federal workforce investments be explicitly linked to outcomes and program performance. It harmonizes metrics, strengthens data linkages, and mandates transparent reporting on placement and wages, while reforming or eliminating programs that fail to connect participants to high-wage jobs and reserving taxpayer-funded services for individuals legally authorized to work.

• Flexibility and Innovation. This pillar recognizes the need to adapt at the pace of AI-driven economic change. It uses existing authorities to enable regulatory flexibility, embeds AI literacy and skills throughout the workforce system, and launches rapid pilot projects for reskilling and other AI-era innovations so the nation can build an adaptive, AI-ready workforce at scale.

Two recent higher education programs make this emphasis on workforce development unmistakable.  Education’s 2025 Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) competition listed an invitational priority to “expand access to… pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships… career preparation, work-based learning” and to build programs that lead to “in-demand, industry recognized credentials” (Federal Register). Likewise, the Department’s 2025 Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program, Part A (ANNH) competition includes the same invitational priority language—explicitly encouraging workforce-based options and work-based learning models (Federal Register). 

The Department of Labor is a major contributor of workforce development funding, and it announced on August 11 the availability of $30 million in grants to train American workers for jobs in high demand, emerging industries. The 2025 Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund supports “outcome-based reimbursements to employers for providing training in . . . industries” that align with recent Executive Orders, including Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future,  Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance, and America’s AI Action Plan; at least $5 million in funding is carved out to support training in the shipbuilding industry (DOL). The State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (Round 3) backs states to grow Registered Apprenticeship Programs with research- and evidence-based approaches (DOL). The Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) invests in states’ longitudinal systems so they can evaluate which training programs and services are most effective (DOL).

This workforce focus is seen across grant solicitations from other agencies, too. At the Department of Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration’s FY2025 Low- or No-Emission Buses and Bus Facilities NOFO requires that 5% of federal funds for zero-emission projects be used for workforce development (with defined eligible activities such as retraining and registered apprenticeships) (Federal Transit Administration). MARAD’s FY2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program NOFO states program goals that include “workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation” (Maritime Administration). Similarly, MARAD’s FY2025 Small Shipyard Grant NOFO explicitly funds maritime training programs to build technical skills and productivity in shipbuilding and repair (Maritime Administration).

For colleges, states, and workforce boards, workforce development is more than a theme—it’s a scoring advantage under this Administration. Proposals that braid institutional reform with employer partnerships, apprenticeships, and measurable job placement are best aligned with the 2025 federal funding landscape.

Navigating the Federal Grants Landscape in 2025: Essential Tips for Educational Administrators

Securing federal grants in 2025 requires educational administrators in K-12 and higher education to be strategic and highly adaptive. With shifting governmental priorities, stricter oversight, and an increasingly competitive funding environment, understanding the nuances of federal grantmaking is essential for success. Here are five essential tips to effectively navigate this evolving landscape:

1. Strategic Framing: Adapt Your Federal Grants Narrative

Federal grants in 2025 demand narratives tailored explicitly to current policy directions. Terms that were once widely accepted, such as "equity," "inclusion," or "trauma-informed," now face increased scrutiny. To successfully align your proposal with federal priorities:

• Use strategic synonyms: Employ language such as "access," "resilience," or "community engagement" to convey equity-related concepts without triggering ideological concerns.

• Customize for each agency: Agencies vary significantly in their emphasis. Departments like HUD or Education may support community-centered initiatives, whereas Commerce or Treasury prioritize economic impact and broad societal benefits. Understand the goals and strategic priorities of the grant programs you are applying to.

  
  

2. Timing and Opportunity Awareness

Timing remains critical in navigating federal grants. In 2025, funding is closely tied to administration priorities such as America 250 and Make America Healthy Again and executive orders targeting, among other topics, artificial intelligence education and workforce programs.

• Track emerging funding streams: Pay close attention to areas prioritized in recent executive orders or legislation.

• Act swiftly on fast-track opportunities: While some grant opportunities have been delayed, others have rolled out with short deadlines. With the recent news that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is no longer in command of Grants.gov, we may see more grant solicitations released soon.

  
  

3. Robust Grant Management Systems

The complexity of federal compliance has increased in 2025, with tighter oversight and more frequent audits. A strong grant management infrastructure is essential to avoid disruptions:

• Prioritize compliance: Ensure strict adherence to guidelines outlined in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, which was significantly updated in 2024.

• Build internal resilience: Anticipate potential disruptions, such as delayed reimbursements or changing federal guidance. Bolster internal controls and develop internal workflows using tools such as dashboards, automated checklists, and standardized reporting templates.

• Clarify roles and accountability: Clearly delineate responsibilities across your grant team, standardizing reporting schedules and internal audit processes to preempt compliance issues.

  
  

4. Rigorous and Strategic Proposal Design

Proposals in 2025 must showcase both technical rigor and strategic alignment with federal priorities:

• Innovative yet aligned narratives: Emphasize modernization and efficiency—for instance, frame technology upgrades as enhancing educational infrastructure or improving student outcomes--while aligning the narrative with 2025 executive orders.

• Data-driven justifications: Support narratives with robust data, baseline measurements, and well-articulated return-on-investment analyses. Use evidence-based projections to demonstrate tangible benefits.

• Strengthened partnerships: Clearly articulate collaborative relationships with local entities, businesses, and community groups to demonstrate broad-based support and shared impact.

  
  

5. Active Networking and Trend Monitoring

Successful navigation of the grants landscape involves continuous learning and strategic networking:

• Engage in professional learning: Participate regularly in webinars, seminars, and workshops, such as those provided by the National Grants Management Association, to stay current with federal funding trends.

• Leverage external expertise: Utilize seasoned grant-writing consultants and firms experienced in securing federal funds. Their insights and systems can significantly enhance your proposal's effectiveness.

• Build collaborative networks: Connect with peer institutions and grant-seeking communities to exchange insights, strategies, and lessons learned. This collaborative approach enhances your institution’s adaptability and responsiveness.

Quick Tips Recap

Strategy	Actionable Tip
Strategic Framing	Replace flagged terms with accepted synonyms.
Timing and Awareness	Monitor legislative priorities and anticipate fast-track funding windows.
Grant Management	Standardize compliance procedures and internal workflows.
Proposal Design	Ground narratives in data-driven, measurable outcomes.
Networking	Regularly engage with experts and peer institutions.

Final Thoughts

Navigating federal grants in 2025 demands adaptability and strategic foresight. By embracing strategic framing, maintaining awareness, strengthening grants management systems, refining proposal design, and leveraging networks, educational administrators can successfully secure essential federal support to advance educational missions.

At Shaffer Evaluation Group, we specialize in empowering educational institutions to effectively secure and manage federal funding. Contact us to learn how we can support your grant strategy for success in 2025 and beyond.