OVERVIEW

Our mission:
CTE provides students with technical training to prepare for a successful
career. The structured training each student receives gives him or her the tools
needed to be successful in a job after high school and/or further his or her postsecondary
education, whether technical school, two-year college, or four-year
college. Each student is encouraged to explore various areas of study and to
develop the essential skills to enter today’s competitive job market with confidence.

Career and Technical Education is an essential component of the total
educational system in Utah and is critical to the country’s ability to compete in a
global economy. Career and Technical Education is provided in a variety of settings
and levels including middle school/junior high career exploration, secondary
programs, post-secondary certificates and degrees, and customized training for
employees in the workplace.

AREAS OF STUDY
CTE provides courses and pathways consistent with industry standards.
Exploratory courses begin in the 7th grade, and subsequent courses teach students
specific job readiness and job skills, which can lead to employment and postsecondary
education.

• Agricultural Education
• Business Education
• Economics and Entrepreneurship Education
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education
• Health Science and Technology Education
• Information Technology Education
• Marketing Education
• Skilled and Technical Sciences Education
• Technology and Engineering Education

Our vision is to see that every student has the opportunity to explore a variety of
career areas, throughout high school, that will equip him or her with the academic
knowledge, technical and employment skills vital for entry into the evolving
workforce of the 21st century.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) creates pathways to success for every secondary student
by providing him or her with the technical skills and academic knowledge needed to prepare for future employment and/or a successful transition to postsecondary education.

THE ROLE OF SECONDARY CTE

• Provide career and technical education in the state’s K-12
  system of public education.
• Introduce students to career options.
• Assist in development of career goals.
• Provide technical skills.
• Provide occupation-specific skills.
• Prepare students for further education and training.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

• Provided in all 40 school districts
• Provided in all 141 middle schools
• Provided in all 109 high schools
• Over 131,000 students participate in CTE training in grades 9-12

COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE PROGRAM
Utah’s Comprehensive Guidance Program assists students and their parents in the development of Student Education Occupation Plans (SEOPs). The program enables students to:

• Explore career possibilities.
• Expand their opportunities and set personal education and career goals.

CTE INTRODUCTION
Utah’s CTE Introduction program provides junior high students with the direction, decision making, and planning needed in order to select their career path.

• Self-Knowledge
• Education and Occupation Exploration
• Career Planning

SKILL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
CTE provides skill certificates in courses and programs in grades 9-12. The Skill Certificate exams verify skill attainment and, where available, industry exams are offered. This accountability system assures that all courses and programs in the state are consistently teaching to the standards established by experts in that occupational area.

WORK-BASED LEARNING
Utah’s Work-Based Learning program narrows the gap between theory and practice. Students have opportunities to see how classroom instruction connects to the world of work and future career opportunities through these activities.

• Internships/Apprenticeships
• Job Shadowing
• Career Fairs/Guest Speakers
• Field Studies
• Clinical Work Experiences
• Cooperative Work Experiences