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Administrative Resources

Standards-Based CTE Model Curriculum Development

Standards-Based CTE Curriculum Model (PDF)
This guide includes examples of how career and technical education curriculum is to be developed.

Strategies for Serving Special Populations Students in CTE

Strategies for Serving Special Populations Students in CTE (PDF)

This document provides strategies to schools and career and technical centers that are working with all categories of special populations as defined in the federal Perkins regulation. The 2020-21 report on serving special populations students in CTE is a summary of effective strategies identified by a statewide working group. It is not meant to serve as an exhaustive list of strategies. Rather, it captures the professional insight and in-the-field knowledge working group members shared during four meetings. It represents a jumping off point for further discussion on how best to meet the needs of CTE students across special populations in Pennsylvania and the resources needed to do this.  

Leadership Connections

In 2012, under the direction of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE), the Meeder Consulting Group (MCG) set out to identify and document key factors that contribute to a positive working relationship among career and technology center (CTC) directors, Joint Operating Committees (JOC), and sending school superintendents.

To gather input, a series of interviews and focus groups were conducted with CTC directors, superintendents, and JOC members who volunteered to share their insights and experiences. MCG also reviewed resources and met with leaders and staff from BCTE, the Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators (PACTA), the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA), and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA). Much of the input has been combined and condensed, and therefore not attributed to specific individuals. However, in cases where information was specific to a CTC or individual, their names were cited to lend credibility.

The following guidebook, Leadership Connections: Effective Relationships (PDF), is the result of those efforts. The purpose of this guidebook is to share ideas and practical examples of "promising practices" that CTC leadership stakeholders can implement to improve their working relationships. In summary, these practices include:

  • Open, transparent, ongoing communication
  • Sharing resources (financial, programmatic, etc.)
  • Collaborative approaches to challenges
  • Flexibility and coordination

Common understanding of purpose of, and goals for, the CTC.

Creating Aligned Calendars

The following guidebook, Creating Aligned Calendars: A Guide for Career and Technical Centers and Sending Districts (PDF), provides CTC directors and district superintendents with information and specific examples about how CTCs and their sending districts throughout Pennsylvania are working towards calendar alignment. The guide describes three different approaches to developing aligned calendars and identifies key factors to be considered during the alignment process. Although the primary audience is CTC directors, calendar alignment requires a coordinated effort among primary stakeholders from both the CTC and the sending district. With that collaborative approach in mind, this guide is intended to be a useful resource for both CTC directors and their sending district superintendent colleagues.

Student Access to Secondary CTE

Student Access to Career and Technical Education
This webpage provides guidance on the applicable statutes that address student access to career and technical education.

Supporting Students' Transition to Postsecondary

To help students make a successful transition, teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators at many of Pennsylvania's career and technical centers (CTC) are providing explicit and innovative supports that increase students' college and career awareness, help them navigate through the college application and admission process, and help them enter the workforce.

Supporting CTE Students Transition to College and Career (PDF)

The report provides promising examples of the following types of supports.

  • Preparing for College and Career:  Events and Opportunities
  • Encouraging Students to Earn College Credits at the Career and Technical Center 
  • Offering Specialized Support from Guidance and Career Counselors
  • Supporting Students with Special Needs 

Act 117 - Area Career and Technical Education Schools Report

The Act 117 (Area Career and Technical Education Schools) Report is prepared annually by the Department of Education, Bureau of Career and Technical Education to inform the Standing Committee on Education of the Senate and House of Representatives on matters related to area career and technical education schools as required by Act 117 of 1986 and Section 1803.1 of the Pennsylvania School Code. If you would like a copy of the Act 117 Area CTE Schools Report, contact the Bureau of Career and Technical Education.

Establish or Renew a CIP

This form is to be used by public school entities seeking to establish or renew a classification of instructional program (CIP) to the current Public School CIP Listing.