Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Career and technical educations (CTE) prepares students for a wide range of high-skill careers by providing core academic skills, employability skills and technical, job-specific skills. CTE programs integrate with academics to provide a rigorous and relevant education, often leading to industry-recognized certifications and credentials.
The Kansas State Department of Education provides a framework and guidance for CTE programs in Kansas secondary schools, utilizing the National Career Clusters® Framework. There are 36 Career Pathways available in 16 Career Clusters and secondary schools may apply to offer these Pathways to their students.
Because both federal (Carl Perkins) and state (0.5 weighting) funds are available for CTE programs in Kansas, schools offering these Pathways must be aware of the regulations involved. Professional learning opportunities are provided by Smoky Hill Education Service Center to assist school personnel in fulfilling these regulations.
Career and technical education is a multi-faceted world and can be complicated to navigate. Professional learning is important to stay abreast not only of the most up-to-date skills needed to be taught in the Pathways, but also the constantly changing requirements, labor-market needs and new initiatives. Smoky Hill ESC provides workshops, professional learning networks, consulting, and coaching to assist administrators, educators and staff in navigating the complexities of CTE.
Contact Pam Kraus, CTE Coordinator and STEM Consultant, at 785-825-9185 or pkraus@smokyhill.org for more information about how Smoky Hill ESC can assist you with your CTE programs.