Programs of Study (POS)/SOAR

The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) required the development and implementation of career and technical programs of study (POS). Programs of Study incorporate elements of secondary and postsecondary education and include coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant career and technical coursework.

This coordinated progression of non-duplicative coursework includes the opportunity for secondary students to earn industry-recognized credentials and postsecondary credits through statewide articulation agreements with participating postsecondary institutions. Credit awarded at the postsecondary level leads to a diploma, certificate or associate degree that prepares students for their career. More information about qualifying for advanced credits is available at SOAR (Students Occupationally and Academically Ready

Currently, 38 POS have been developed by the Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE). The development of POS satisfies the requirements of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act of 2018 (Perkins V). Each local recipient of funds under Perkins V will be required to offer the relevant content of the Program of Study.

The POS Framework

1. CIP Code. The Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) number is used by schools and postsecondary institutions to categorize the POS, which will outline the scope and sequence of educational offerings for the student. This number is used by schools and postsecondary institutions to categorize the POS, which will outline the scope and sequence of educational offerings for the student.
2. Title. Each POS is represented by a program name or title, CIP Code and the career cluster. The PDF document also includes a description of the program, qualifications for teacher certification, and occupational competency evaluation.
3. Task list.The task list is a secondary school instructional tool used to measure the technical competency of a student in a specific program of study. Task lists are arranged prepared for each program of study, according to the student's year of graduation from a secondary school. Students should refer to the task list that correlates to their year of high school graduation.
4. Crosswalks to Academics. These documents contain important information that demonstrates proper linkages between task lists and Pennsylvania Core Standards. By examining each crosswalk, it is possible to observe individual tasks and the corresponding Academic Standard in reading, writing, and mathematics. The National Common Career Technical Core Standards are also linked to many of the tasks on each task list.
   Instructor's Guide: Linking PA Core Standards to Career and Technical Education Programs of Study (PDF)
   Secondary schools are accountable for the fulfillment of academic standards. The academic standards are available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Standards Aligned System (SAS) website at www.pdesas.org.
5. Secondary School Partners. These documents exhibit the secondary schools which that have approved POS. Additional information listed includes the school's address, the year of POS approval or deletion, and the CIP code. Secondary teachers and counselors, postsecondary instructors, and business and industry professionals may find these listings useful.

PA Programs of Study