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Career Tech Education Department » CTE Department

CTE Department

Career Technical Education

CTE p2

What is Career Technical Education(CTE)? - CTE is A program of study that involves a multiyear sequence of courses that integrates core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge to provide students with a pathway to post secondary education and careers.

Why is CTE important to me, the student and to my family?

Career Technical Education programs deliver many benefits, here are just a few:

  • Connect classroom instruction with applied knowledge and skills to solve real world problems
  • Build important skills in creativity, collaboration, and communication
  • Foster high school and post-secondary partnerships to provide a clear pathway to certifications and degrees
  • Prepare students to be both College AND Career ready
  • Teach students technical and life skills that help them become productive citizens of our local economy, ultimately ensuring the long term health and economic competitiveness of our nation

Vision

Career Technical Education will be the primary purpose of the California K-16 education system, by promoting the state's economic development and providing students with the world-class knowledge and skill necessary to become successful and contributing members of society.

Career Technical Education will engage every student in high-quality educational programs, developed in partnership with business and industry.  It will promote creativity and innovation and allow all students to turn their passion into a paycheck.

Mission

The mission of California's Career Technical Education system is to provide industry-linked programs and services that enable all individuals to reach their career goals in order to achieve a high-quality lifestyle, to be competitive in the global marketplace, and to sustain California's economic dominance.

What is the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 2006?

The 2006 Perkins Act provides federal support for career and technical education. More specifically, this legislation provides resources to secondary and postsecondary CTE programs to support innovation and program improvement. States receive basic state grant funding that can then be distributed to eligible recipients such as high schools, career centers, and community and technical colleges. The 2006 Perkins Act focuses on the academic achievement of CTE students, strengthens the connections between secondary and postsecondary education, and improves state and local accountability. Moreover, it specifically allows state and local funds to be used for CTSO activities. For more information, visit www.ed.gov