Welcome to the next issue of The Prairie Career Advocate. This storytelling effort is part of the Rural IL CTE Project that AIRSS and the Illinois State Board of Education began in 2023. The third issue of the second volume features Fulton High School.
Read the full story to learn more about the successes of their CTE programming and how your district could potentially start a similar program in your community. The links in the document will work if it is downloaded to a computer; otherwise you can find them at the bottom of this page. You may download the PDF by clicking the three dots on the bottom right of the menu, then clicking “Download.”
If you have any questions or comments about the Advocate, please contact Karli Strom, Lead Editor and Rural IL CTE Project Assistant Director, at kstrom@roe26.net.
CTE Webinar: 2026 Research Report
The Rural IL CTE Project’s most recent research report, The Sites and Styles of Rural Career Education, provides insights on challenges rural school districts face when offering CTE and expanding student opportunities. Program Director, John Glasgow, presented its findings and offered a full analysis of results in a recent webinar.
ISBE Votes to Adopt Rural Definition Proposed by the Rural Education Advisory Council
Proposed by the Rural Education Advisory Council in partnership with the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, this rural definition establishes clear and geographic criteria to define small and rural education systems.
Building a More Equitable and Connected Dual Credit CTE System in Illinois
Dual-credit programs pave the way for career and college readiness, but rural students rarely get an equal seat at the table. This white paper explores actionable solutions to this gap, offering a roadmap to a more equitable and effective dual-credit system for rural Illinois.
Regional Rural Future Teachers’ Club Celebrates Progress and Plans for the Future
The Regional Rural Future Teachers’ Club gathered for its spring event to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and to think strategically about the road ahead.
Student Interview: Powering the Future Through Career Education
Through a unique internship made possible by OPTERRA Energy Solutions, El Paso-Gridley CUSD #11 students Jasper Wenger and Nathaniel Hiles were able to start their journeys into the working world while still in high school.
Rural IL CTE Project Portal
Visit the Rural IL CTE Project Portal for the latest tools, tips, guides, and resources your rural CTE program needs! From research, case studies, an asset map, and more, we’re working to provide you with everything you need to grow and sustain an exemplary program for students. The Portal is updated regularly with new content, and any suggestions and criticisms are welcome.
The links on this page, and throughout the Advocate, are active and clickable when viewed in the original PDF format.