2026 Advance CTE Spring Meeting


Wednesday, April 29, 2026
to Friday, May 1, 2026
Category: Annual Conferences

Registration opens January 26, 2026. More details to come!

Questions? Reach out to meetings@careertech.org.

If you need help securing approval to attend, we've provided a sample justification letter for your convenience.
Interested in becoming a sponsor? View our opportunities and associated benefits, along with the Commitment Form in our Sponsorship Opportunities document.

Frequently Asked Questions

PDF Version

Who can attend Advance CTE’s Spring Meeting? 

While Advance CTE primarily supports state CTE leaders, all stakeholders and champions of Career Technical Education (CTE) are welcome! 

What is the meeting format? 

Spring Meeting will begin on Wednesday, April 29 and will include general sessions, smaller and interactive breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and more. Spring Meeting will end at noon on Friday, May 1. 

What is the registration deadline? 

Early Bird registration closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on March 2, 2026. The general registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on March 31, 2026.

What is the 2026-2031 Vision?

Last fall, over 200 local, state, national, and industry leaders within CTE came together for the CTE Unlocked Summit to ideate on a shared vision for the future of CTE. The Advance CTE team is currently working with the 11 co-convenor organizations of the Summit to refine and finalize the demi-decade vision, which will guide implementation of state and federal policy, philanthropic investments, and national partners’ CTE priorities. The vision will be officially released on day 1 of Spring Meeting and will inform sessions and discussions across the agenda.

Will the National Career Clusters® Framework be discussed at the meeting? 

Yes, there will be opportunities to learn from state leaders and the field at large about current and future implementation of the Framework. 

Do I need to log in when I register for Spring Meeting? 

Yes, all registrants are required to have an account on our member portal (on Novi AMS) in order to register for Spring Meeting. There are no additional costs to creating an account, and you may use the account to register for other Advance CTE events. Full instructions can be found on our Novi blog.

Does Advance CTE have hotel rooms available for meeting attendees?

Yes, Advance CTE has a discounted room block within the daily lodging per diem rate at the MGM National Harbor. Rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so please reserve your room early. The room block will close on April 7. Please book your hotel room using Advance CTE’s dedicated event link. 

Which airport is closest to the hotel? 

The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is eight miles from the event hotel. The hotel does not provide a shuttle for transport to and from the airport. However, a bus leaving from The Theater entrance does drop off at the airport for a fee. Using the metro is not recommended as the closest bus with a direct route to the metro is a 15 minute walk. 

I’m driving/taking public transportation to Spring Meeting. Where can I find parking and transit information?

Self-parking is free. Visit the hotel’s page for more parking and transportation details.

I want to explore Washington, DC and National Harbor. What are my transportation options? 

Driving, taxi, or ridesharing is recommended for travel into the nation’s capital. Visit the MGM National Harbor Transportation and Parking website for more information. 

Is there a resort fee? What is included in the resort fee? 

The daily rate for the MGM National Harbor includes a mandatory but discounted resort rate of $18 per night. The resort fee includes access to facility Wi-Fi, fitness center, seasonal pool access, digital newspaper & magazine downloads.

Are meals included in my registration? 

Each registration includes two breakfasts and one lunch. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided at the April 29 evening reception. 

I am interested in being a Spring Meeting sponsor. Where can I get more information? 

Thank you for your interest! We offer several tiers of sponsorships — more information can be found on our Spring Meeting event page

Can I receive a refund if I have to cancel my registration? 

All cancellations must be submitted by email to meetings@careertech.org. To receive a full refund of your meeting registration, a cancellation request must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on March 31, 2026. Cancellations received between March 31 and April 13, 2026, will be refunded 50% of the registration fee. Cancellations received starting April 14, 2026, will result in no refund. If a registration has been made and the registration fee is not paid before the cancellation request, the registrant is still responsible for any applicable unpaid fees. Meeting no-shows will be responsible for paying the full registration rate. It is the responsibility of the registrant to cancel any hotel reservations in the event they are no longer able to attend. Advance CTE is not responsible for weather-related travel delays, illnesses, or other issues in regard to personal travel. No refunds will be given due to these occurrences once the cancellation window has closed.