The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education asked state lawmakers Wednesday for a $19.3 million increase in state funding to add or expand career training programs and help meet the employment demands of Oklahoma businesses and industries.

Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken submitted a budget request of $211,801,505 for fiscal year 2026, a 10% increase over CareerTech’s fiscal 2025 state appropriation.

Haken said $41.65 million would be used to add or expand career training programs in a wide range of industries, including $10.95 million for health careers, $9.9 million for construction trades and $8.3 million for manufacturing. He said $12.5 million would be used to add 37 new career programs in other areas, including agriculture, public safety and STEM.

“Oklahoma’s workforce is the backbone of our economy, and CareerTech is at the forefront of preparing individuals for high-demand careers,” Haken said. “By increasing state funding for career training programs, we can expand opportunities for Oklahomans, equip businesses with skilled employees and ensure our state remains competitive in a rapidly evolving job market. Investing in CareerTech is an investment in Oklahoma’s future.”

Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.

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