1. What is Career and Technical Education (CTE)?
Career and Technical Education means organized educational activities that offer a sequence of courses that provides individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions, provides technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or an associate degree …; and include competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an industry, including entrepreneurship., of an individual. [Carl D. Perkins Act of 2006, Section 3(5)]
The Vision of Arizona CTE is to ensure a dynamic workforce by fully developing every student’s career and academic potential; the Mission is to prepare Arizona students for workforce success and continuous learning.
2. Can any individual access funding through the Carl D. Perkins Act of 2006?
No, the Carl D. Perkins Act of 2006 does not provide funding to individuals but provides funding to eligible recipients, also called eligible institutions, as defined in the Carl Perkins legislation, to support approved Career and Technical Education programs.
3. Which districts are eligible to receive Carl Perkins or other CTE funding?
Secondary and postsecondary entities must offer at least one approved CTE program that leads to technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or a degree in order to be considered eligible and must meet all requirements defined in state and federal legislation.
4. What is a CTSO?
CTSO is an acronym for Career and Technical Student Organization. These are organizations specifically for students enrolled in CTE programs. These organizations engage students through focus on CTE application activities such as developing and practicing leadership roles and applying specific occupational and academic content knowledge as an integral part of the instructional program.
5. Whom do I contact at the Arizona Department of Education for information about CTE?
CTE Assessments – Barbara Zalazinski, Assessment Program Specialist, 602-542-3425
CTE Programs – Shea Padilla, Programs Team Leader, 602-542-5049
CTE Student Organizations (CTSO) – Ryan Hamilton, CTSO Team Leader, 602.542.5350
Federal and State Priority Grants – Jeanne Roberts, Lead Perkins Specialist, 602-364-2211
Grants and Management Information Services – Nancy Schmidt, Fiscal Team Leader, 602.542-3823
Performance Measures Reporting – Donna Kerwin, CTE IT Information Specialist, 602-542-7881
CTE Professional Development – Paulett Ellis, Professional Development Team Leader, 602-542-5660
6. How does a district begin the process to be considered eligible for Carl Perkins and other CTE funding?
The first step is for the district to look on the CTE webpage at the Notification of Intent (NOI) information to determine if they have the structure in place which meets the requirements for program approval. The district should then complete and submit the NOI online, which will then be verified and approved by the State Supervisor who oversees that particular program. If requirements are not in place, the State Supervisor will advise next steps.
7. Is CTE funding considered an entitlement?
No, CTE funding is not considered an entitlement. Both federal and state legislation stipulate many requirements which must be met in order to maintain eligibility for CTE funding.
8. What is a CTE program?
Arizona includes 36 specific programs and 2 emerging programs as listed on the FY 2012 CTE Program List (see webpage), and must contain the recommended sequence of courses and all essential elements. The program must deliver all state-designated program standards for that program and must be directly related to preparing individuals for employment in an occupation or a pathway to postsecondary education.
9. What are the essential elements of an approved CTE program?
In order to be approved, a CTE program must contain all of the following elements: Deliver a coherent sequence of instruction; teach all the State-designated program standards; be specified on the current CTE program list; be taught by an appropriately certified teacher per CTE certification requirements; evaluate program performance annually and meet or exceed established state performance measures; offer student work-based participation that involves actual work experience and connects classroom learning to work activities; require student participation in Career Exploration for grades 7 – 9; and require a CTSO to be organized for the CTE program area.
