Who We Are
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a planned program of
courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of
career options, supports basic academic and life skills, and
enables achievement of high academic standards, leadership,
preparation for industry-defined work, and advanced and continuing
education.
What We Do
Career Pathways
Career pathways are a simple but comprehensive way for students
to make their initial introduction to the world of careers.
Seattle’s career pathways break the world of work into four
areas around which CTE classes cluster. This helps students,
families, counselors and teachers grasp the work world as it
is addressed by Career & Technical Education, and if
students’ interest leads them there, choose classes
accordingly.
There are numerous careers in each pathway and many are
interrelated. Entrepreneurship, leadership/management and
technology opportunities exist in all pathways. Here are the
four pathways:
Career Academies
These include NAF Academies (Academy of Finance, Academy of
Hospitality & Tourism, and Academy of Information Technology).
Please see the Career Academy
page for more details.
Career & Technical Education Programs: Universals and
Specialties
High school CTE programs are best understood as being either
Universals or Specialties. Universals are
core CTE courses and ideally are offered at every comprehensive
high school. Specialties are specialized courses
that reflect a particular and defining interest offered at only
select schools.
Exploratory Courses
Introductory CTE courses in which students demonstrate the
application of Essential Academic Learning Requirements and Grade
Level Expectations in the context of preparing for living, learning
and working; demonstrate foundational and occupational-specific
skills required to meet current industry standards; explore and
demonstrate knowledge of career options within the related pathway;
and demonstrate leadership and employability skills.
Preparatory Courses
CTE courses in which students demonstrate mastery of
competencies including the application of EALRs and GLEs as
required to meet industry-defined standards needed for a specific
career; demonstrate leadership skills and employability skills; be
employment ready and/or be prepared for postsecondary
options. These courses frequently lead to industry-based
certifications.
Core Leadership Skills and Career and Technical Student
Organizations (CTSO’s)
Leadership skill development for all students is a required,
integral part of all Career and Technical Education instructional
programs. Leadership skills include the ability to analyze,
refine, and apply decision-making skills through classroom, family,
community, and business and industry (work-related) experiences;
leadership skills include the ability to communicate, participate,
and advocate effectively in pairs, small groups, teams, and large
groups in order to reach common goals.
Recognized school leadership organizations (CTSO’s)
include: DECA – Marketing Education; FBLA –
Business Education; FCCLA – Family & Consumer Sciences
Education; FFA – Agriculture/Horticulture Education;
Skills-USA-VICA – Technical, Skilled and Service
Organizations Training, including Health Occupations Education; and
TSA – Technology Education.
Cross-crediting
Cross-crediting is where a Career and Technical Education course
provides high school students with core credit towards graduation
and college and university admissions. It blends academic and
career & technical studies. This is an alternative way
for students to meet graduation requirements, and supports pursuit
of preparatory Career and Technical Education course
sequences. These courses support Washington State’s
Essential Academic Learning Requirements. As examples,
teachers have designed integrated projects combining physics and
electronics; geometry and auto mechanics; English and marketing;
algebra and drafting; physics and agricultural science; and medical
terminology and Spanish.
Transition Services
Transition services are services above and beyond conventional
high school classes that provide extra support for students who
need assistance in preparing for college, in obtaining and
sustaining employment, in independent living skills, and in other
areas necessary to independent and successful adult life.
These services are mandated for students with disabilities, but
there are many more students who need and will benefit from
them.
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