Partnering with Rural Local Education Agencies in Western States to Meet Students' Needs
Rural schools across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah face intensifying student needs coupled with limited instructional and leadership capacity.
The West Comprehensive Center is partnering with rural local education agencies across the region to strengthen leadership capacity and support systems to better meet student needs and improve outcomes.
West CC will support the region by:
- Conducting a need-sensing meeting with state directors from rural school associations;
- Developing resources to distribute to rural local education agencies to address state priorities;
- Supporting ongoing communication with partners; and
- Synthesizing evidence-based strategies to inform state decision-making.
Through these efforts, education leaders in the region will be better equipped to work collaboratively to align resources with regional needs.
CTE Pathways Guide
Supporting CTE Pathway Programs in Rural Schools: Lessons from Utah
An increasing number of school districts across the country are developing relevant Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways for students to transition into industry careers. It is critical in rural districts to address both the evolving needs of communities and the interests of students.
This guide features insights from school districts in rural southeastern Utah that successfully built and sustained CTE programs with strong local partnerships, placed staff in strategic roles, and aligned to student and workforce needs.
Webinar
On September 9, 2026, the West CC partnered with the North Carolina Rural Education Collaborative (NCREC) for a conversation with education leaders from Utah's San Juan School District about building and sustaining Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways in rural communities.
The discussion highlighted key themes the Supporting CTE Pathway Programs in Rural Schools: Lessons from Utah guide, including student-centered pathway design, partnerships that expand opportunities, and strategies for sustaining CTE programs over time.
