What is CTE?

Today’s cutting-edge, rigorous and relevant career and technical education (CTE) prepares youth and adults for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers. Career and technology education can give you what’s needed to succeed for life: technical skills, academic skills and employability skills. In addition, career and technical education helps students see how what they’re learning applies to the needs of employers.

Regardless of whether students are headed for college or the workforce, this type of education will help them prepare for the future. In fact, college-bound students can get job experiences to help them define their career plans, identify an appropriate course of study and help pay for tuition.

What is a CTE pathway?

A CTE pathway is a sequence of two or more CTE courses within a student’s area of career interest. Pathways are designed to connect high school classes to college, industry certifications, and/or a career.

Why should students participate in a CTE pathway?

While in high school, students have the opportunity to acquire free technical skills training in the career field he/she is interested in. Students will learn valuable technical skills and soft skills making them employable regardless of the field of study they actually end up in.

Are any CTE classes in pathways articulated with local community colleges?

Yes! CTE courses are articulated with Victor Valley College or Barstow Community College. At the beginning of each school year, the CTE coordinator and teachers work with Victor Valley College and Barstow Community College to begin or renew their course articulation agreements.

How do CTE courses prepare students for college and career?

All CTE courses support the Common Core and CTE Model Curriculum Standards (MCS). Learning rigorous academic skills, especially in English Language Arts and Mathematics are an integral part of each CTE course outline and competencies. These skills help our students put English Language Arts and Mathematics to work in a real-world, hands-on environment they can relate to. The CTE MCS are designed to assist school districts in developing high quality curriculum and instruction to prepare students for future careers. The MCS were created with assistance from more than 300 representatives from business, industry, postsecondary and secondary education and reviewed by nearly 1000 members of the general public. These standards are rigorous, evidence-based, relevant and reasonable in scope http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ct/sf/mcsbriefpaper.asp

What are the CTE areas of study or industry sectors?

The California Department of Education recognizes the following CTE industry sectors:

• Agriculture & Natural Resources

• Arts, Media & Entertainment

• Building & Construction Trades

• Business and Finance

• Education, Child Development & Family Services

• Energy, Environment & Utilities

• Engineering & Architecture

• Fashion & Interior Design

• Health Science & Medical Technology

• Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation

• Information & Communication Technologies

• Manufacturing and Product Development

• Marketing, Sales & Service

• Public Services

• Transportation