This summer, Advance CTE is pleased to partner with experts from supporting organizations of Without Limits: A Shared Vision for the Future of Career Technical Education (CTE Without Limits) to conduct video panels to delve into four of the five foundational commitments that connect the vision principles. 
Our fourth panel featuring Credential Engine and the Data Quality Campaign builds on previous episodes that named data infrastructure as a priority to advance the vision principles and foundational commitments. Each panelist identified first steps for policy and process, states with promising practices, and organizational culture changes necessary to ensure data advances rather than impedes equitable outcomes for CTE learners. 
Both speakers agreed that policy infrastructure that removes silos and allows for the collection of more data on learner outcomes, particularly beyond K-12, must be present before any meaningful technical infrastructure investments occur. The need for leadership-level cross agency governance incorporating diverse voices beyond data ‘owners’ across K-12, postsecondary and workforce systems to advance data connectivity; and data capture and reporting conducted ‘in the sunshine’ were recurring first step themes. Promising practices for data system connectivity and transparency in California, Texas and Connecticut were also elevated. 
Episode Quotes: 

“Data system silos follow the silos that we have in our institutions. It’s already challenging for a learner to be in K-12 and take postsecondary courses [at the same time] while also holding an internship…those silos are going to be reflected at the data infrastructure at the state and local level as well.” – Brennan McMahon Parton, Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, Data Quality Campaign
“CTE lives in that intersection between K-12, postsecondary and industry and we have to get everyone to the table to share information in secure ways when it comes to individual student records, but in very open ways when it is around what people earning and learning so that we can give the best picture to that student when they are navigating their own pathway.” – Scott Cheney, CEO, Credential Engine 

Thank you to Advance CTE’s Austin Estes for serving as a facilitator and to our panelists for their expertise and insights. 
Watch previous episodes that discuss steps CTE leaders can take to prioritize quality,  diversity, equity and inclusion and effective public-private partnerships in realizing CTE Without Limits. We hope this series has been helpful in identifying and connecting priorities in vision implementation across all five principles. 
Visit our vision page to read the full vision, access vision communication and implementation resources, and view recordings of our summer Lunch and Learn webinar series focused on the five vision principles. Don’t forget to register for our next lunch and learn session featuring The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), KnowledgeWorks, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on August 17. 
Vision the Learning that Works Resource Center for additional reports and tools to guide next steps to enhance data and accountability and credentials and assessments. 
Stacy Whitehouse, Senior Associate Communications and State Engagement