Principal Nicole Paxton of Mountain Vista Community School in Colorado's Harrison School District 2 has expanded career and technical education offerings by encouraging staff to obtain licensing in subjects that interest students. The program, which is exploratory for middle school students, includes courses such as media arts and LEGO robotics, with plans to add a durable skills course for students in special education classrooms.

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Teen hackers, often called Advanced Persistent Teenagers, have been behind major cyber incidents, highlighting vulnerabilities in school technology. A recent initiative by Bugcrowd, the UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity and the Hacking Policy Council aims to channel these skills for good by involving teenagers in cybersecurity efforts.

The New York State Board of Regents is considering a proposal to require high-school students to earn a minimum of one credit in career and technical education before graduation. Sandra Ruffo, president of the state School Boards Association, says Boards of Cooperative Educational Services are prepared to help students meet this potential requirement.

Dual enrollment is surging in Michigan, with high-school students making up 16% of community-college students and 9% of all undergraduates. The increase is driven by the opportunity to take college courses for free, helping students save money and get a head start on their education.

Chadron State College, Peru State College and Wayne State College are partnering with InsideTrack, a nonprofit organization, to reengage more than 3,000 former students who have been away for over a year. The Reengage Nebraska initiative will provide one-on-one coaching to help former students overcome barriers to completing their degrees, addressing the state's labor shortage.

AI is expected to affect 89% of jobs next year, according to a survey of human resources leaders by CNBC, which finds that 67% of HR executives report AI is already having an effect. Most respondents say AI has made their companies more efficient and innovative, but some note it is too early to measure the full effect.

Orlando, Fla., experienced 24.8% employment growth between October 2020 and August 2025, driven by rebounds in leisure, hospitality and other sectors, according to a RealPage analysis. Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas followed closely, with increases of 23.6% and 23.1%, respectively. The gains are fueling opportunities in commercial real estate.