Executive Order 13697: Amendment to Executive Order 11155, Awards for Special Capability in Career and Technical Education
President: Barack Obama
Expanded the Presidential Scholars awards to recognize outstanding students in career and technical education.
Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13697 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13697 remains the unrevoked amendment authorizing Presidential Scholars recognition for career and technical education. The Department of Education retains the order among the program’s authorities and includes the career and technical education category in its 2026 selection process and semifinalist list. Sources: Federal Register 2015 executive order disposition table, EO 13697; Signed Executive Order 13697; Department of Education, Presidential Scholars authorizing executive orders; Department of Education, current Presidential Scholars selection process; Department of Education, May 2026 Presidential Scholars semifinalists.
What does Executive Order 13697 do?
EO 13697 amended the Presidential Scholars order, EO 11155, to allow the commission to select up to 20 additional scholars each year for achievement in career and technical education. The Department of Education’s 2026 program still describes CTE eligibility and nomination by state chief school officers. Selection is competitive and honorary; the order does not itself award tuition funding or guarantee an invitation.
Before and after
Before the order
The program formally recognized academic excellence and arts achievement but lacked a dedicated CTE category.
After the order
States could nominate CTE candidates and the commission could select up to 20 annually.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Education Department | Administer nominations and selection | Continuing |
| States and program partners | Identify CTE candidates | Continuing |
| Presidential Scholars Commission | Select recipients | Continuing |
What happened next
EO 11155 established Presidential Scholars.
EO 13697 added CTE recognition.
The Department of Education’s Presidential Scholars semifinalist list retained a career and technical education category. Official source.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The order structures an executive recognition program and creates no monetary entitlement or enforceable right to selection.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- Education Department — 2026 CTE eligibility (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 23, 2026. How we research →