Alphabet soup, decoded
The glossary
Michigan's education and workforce world runs on acronyms. Here's what they mean.
- 21f
- The section of state law that gives students in grades 6-12 up to two free virtual courses per term.
- 61a, 61b
- Sections of the State School Aid Act that pay extra money for CTE programs (61a) and for CTE Early Middle Colleges and CTE dual enrollment (61b).
- ACA
- Annual Career Authorization. Lets someone from industry teach a CTE program without a teaching certificate.
- AP
- Advanced Placement. College-level high school classes with a May exam that can earn college credit.
- Apprentice
- A worker in a structured, paid training program who learns a trade on the job plus in class.
- CEPD
- Career Education Planning District. One of 53 regions that plan and fund CTE. Each has an administrator who works with MDE.
- CIP code
- A federal code that identifies a program of study (for example, welding). CTE programs and teacher endorsements are tied to them.
- CTE
- Career and technical education. Hands-on programs that teach a career, from welding to nursing to IT.
- Dual enrollment
- Taking a college course while in high school, paid for by the district.
- EDP
- Educational Development Plan. The career and course plan every student starts in grade 7.
- EMC
- Early Middle College. A five-year high school program where the fifth year (the "13th year") finishes an associate degree, 60 credits, a certificate or apprenticeship progress.
- FAFSA
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Unlocks Pell Grants and most Michigan scholarships.
- Foundation allowance
- The base amount of money a Michigan district gets per student: $10,300 in 2026-27.
- ISD, RESA, ESA
- Intermediate school district (also called a regional educational service agency or educational service agency). One of 56 county-level agencies that serve local districts and usually run the career tech center.
- Journeyperson
- A fully trained worker who has completed an apprenticeship. Also called a journeyman or journey worker.
- LARA
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Issues trade licenses for electricians, plumbers, mechanical contractors and builders.
- LEO
- Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Runs apprenticeship support, Michigan Works! funding, Going PRO and adult education.
- MDE
- Michigan Department of Education. Runs K-12, including CTE, dual enrollment and Early Middle College.
- MiLEAP
- Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. Runs Michigan Reconnect, MI Student Aid and the Achievement Scholarship.
- MEDC
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The state's business attraction agency. Its Talent Action Team builds training pipelines for key employers, and it runs the "You Can in Michigan" talent campaign and the Michigander Scholars program.
- Michigan Career Portal
- MEDC's free online job and career-matching tool, part of its "You Can in Michigan" campaign.
- Michigan Works!
- The state's network of 16 regional workforce agencies with 90+ job centers.
- Pathfinder
- LEO's free career tool showing Michigan wages, job openings and where to train.
- Millage
- A property tax approved by voters. ISDs can ask for one dedicated to CTE.
- MME
- Michigan Merit Exam. The grade 11 state test: the SAT, a work readiness test and science and social studies.
- Perkins V
- The main federal law and grant that funds CTE.
- Personal Curriculum
- A formal change to a student's graduation requirements, requested by a parent after grade 9.
- Pre-apprenticeship
- A short program that prepares someone to apply for and succeed in an apprenticeship.
- Registered apprenticeship
- An apprenticeship approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, with a national credential at the end.
- WIOA
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Federal law that funds job training and employer reimbursement through Michigan Works!.
- Workforce Pell
- Federal Pell Grants for short 8 to 14 week job training programs, new in July 2026.