Nebraska Career and Technical Education Conference 2026

Multilingual learners are often underrepresented in CTE programs, not because of interest or ability, but due to barriers in recruitment, access, and instructional design. This session focuses on practical, low-lift strategies CTE educators and leaders can use to intentionally recruit multilingual learners and support their persistence once enrolled. Participants will explore how language demands show up in CTE classrooms, how to reduce unnecessary barriers without watering down standards, and how to create learning environments where multilingual learners can succeed and see themselves in CTE pathways. Examples will be drawn from real secondary CTE contexts and are applicable across program areas.