Minnesota Career and Technical Education (MN CTE)

MN CTE is a regional government agency and statewide center for CTE teacher professional development, preparation, and mentoring. We provide free resources, guidance, curriculum, and workshops to support teachers. MN CTE manages the statewide CTE teacher recruitment and retention campaign with our Teach CTE™ project, including a statewide job board to track open positions and teacher movement.

We are the only CTE alternative teacher preparation program in Minnesota with approval from the state teacher licensing board, offering no cost/grant-funded alternative pathways to licensure. MN CTE also provides our highly successful, no cost CTE Teacher Induction Program (CTE TIP™), which has a 97% retention rate where nearly all participants return to teach again the next year. Whether you need help with your teaching license or are new to the profession and need curriculum, we are here to help.

MN CTE is a statewide service of Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC), a regional government and school district (ISD 926) under Minnesota State Statute 123A.21, in collaboration with the Minnesota Service Cooperatives. LCSC is in west-central Minnesota (Economic Development Region 4), but provides high quality, innovative programs to districts, cities, counties, other governmental agencies, and nonprofit institutions across the state of Minnesota.

MN CTE exists within the Minnesota Service Cooperatives system, a joint collaboration of nine regional governments known as Service Cooperatives, under Minnesota State Statute 123A.21. Created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1976, Service Cooperatives provide programs and services to local districts and governments within their regional economic development boundaries. In 2001 the Service Cooperatives established the Minnesota Service Cooperatives system as a joint powers agreement under Minnesota State Statue 471.59, which now includes all nine regions as we work together to offer statewide programs.

The nine Service Cooperatives partner to form the MN CTE Consortium and provide statewide services in CTE teacher licensure, induction/mentoring, and professional development under Minnesota State Statute 124D.4536. The cooperatives work as a liaison to state agencies and districts and have strong partnerships with business and industry, postsecondary institutions, and other associations that provide opportunities for Minnesota districts, teachers, and students.