Career and Technical Education Courses

Honors and Endorsements

National Technical Honor Society

Students who complete three Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses with at least a B average and an overall GPA of 3.0 may potentially join The National Technical Honor Society.

NTHS helps members to:

·         Seek postsecondary education by awarding over $260,000 in scholarship annually.

·         Position themselves ahead of competition in today’s highly competitive workforce.

·         Earn recognition for superior achievement in career and technical fields.

·         Build career portfolios with professional letters of recommendation.

·         Connect to global career and technical education networks.

·         Discover opportunities with leading business and industry.

·         Serve in leadership roles in communities and industries.

Career Tech Diploma Endorsement

The Career Ready (or CTE) Endorsement requires students to complete three or more courses in a specific CTE pathway. Students choosing this endorsement participate in classes that prepare them for post-secondary institutions, two and four year or career opportunities. Students earn career ready credentials as well. See Career Tech – Career Pathways.

Career Tech - Career Pathways

Career pathways are state-approved career enhancement programs defined as a coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career related courses usually commencing in the ninth grade and leading to an associate degree, and/or an industry-recognized certificate or licensure, and/or a baccalaureate degree and beyond.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides all students with the opportunity to select at least three sequenced electives in a career pathway, along with recommended academic course work, to prepare them to continue their education at any level or enter the world of work. Selection of a pathway will be based on self- awareness and the investigation of occupations plus related educational levels aligned with the pathway. Most high-demand, high-skilled, high-wage occupations in all concentrations still do require education beyond high school. Implementation of career pathways is a collaborative effort.

Program of Study

Program of study is the terminology assigned by federal legislation (Perkins IV) to describe a “state approved program, which may be adopted by local education agencies and post-secondary institutions to be offered as an option to students when planning for and completing future course work, for career and technical content

areas.” (Hull, Dan, Career Pathways Education with a purpose, CORD Communications, pg. 4, Ap. 2006)

According to Perkins, a program of study:

·         will incorporate and align secondary and post-secondary education;

·         will include academic and CTE content in a coordinated progression of courses;

·         may include the opportunity for secondary students to acquire post-secondary credits;

·         will lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the post-secondary level, or an associate or baccalaureate degree;

·         will identify and address current or emerging occupational opportunities.