CTE Curriculum Development in Alabama

Florida operates one of the largest and most comprehensive CTE systems in the United States, serving students through public high schools, career and technical centers, the Florida College System, and state universities. The state's CTE programs are organized around career clusters and pathways defined in the Florida CTE Curriculum Frameworks, which are updated annually to reflect industry trends and labor market data. Florida's CTE system benefits from strong state-level support, including dedicated funding through the Florida Education Finance Program and targeted investments in high-demand program areas. The state's career and technical centers offer adult education and workforce training alongside secondary CTE, creating a comprehensive career preparation ecosystem. With its diverse economy spanning tourism and hospitality, healthcare, aerospace, agriculture, and technology, Florida's CTE programs prepare students for a wide range of career opportunities. The state has been particularly innovative in developing CTE pathways in emerging fields such as cybersecurity, unmanned vehicle systems, and simulation technology.

Georgia's Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) system is one of the largest and most well-organized in the Southeast, serving students across the state's 180 school districts. The state uniquely includes agricultural education as a core component of its CTE framework, reflecting Georgia's strong agricultural heritage alongside its modern economic strengths in technology, film production, healthcare, and logistics. Georgia organizes its CTAE programs around 17 career clusters and more than 130 career pathways, providing students with a comprehensive range of options for career exploration and preparation. The state requires students to complete a career pathway, which includes three sequential courses, as part of its graduation requirements, ensuring that all Georgia students gain meaningful CTE experience. The state has invested heavily in CTAE program quality, including the development of Georgia-specific curriculum resources and the establishment of strong partnerships with the Technical College System of Georgia, which provides seamless transitions from secondary CTE into postsecondary programs.

Mississippi's Career and Technical Education system plays a critical role in the state's workforce development strategy, serving students through a network of secondary CTE centers and community colleges. The state has made significant investments in modernizing its CTE programs to align with industry demands and provide students with credentials that lead to employment in growing sectors. The Mississippi State Board of Education oversees CTE at the secondary level, while the Mississippi Community College Board manages postsecondary CTE programs. This dual governance structure creates both opportunities for coordination and challenges in maintaining seamless pathways from high school to postsecondary education. Mississippi has placed particular emphasis on growing CTE programs that support the state's economic development priorities, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and logistics. The state's strategic location along the Gulf Coast and major transportation corridors creates unique workforce demands that shape CTE program offerings.

Tennessee's career and technical education system is one of the most comprehensive in the Southeast, serving over 190,000 secondary students annually through programs offered in comprehensive high schools and career and technical centers across all 95 counties. The state's CTE system is organized around 16 career clusters with more than 80 defined programs of study. Tennessee has been nationally recognized for its innovative approach to CTE, particularly through the Tennessee Pathways initiative, which creates aligned career pathways from K-12 through postsecondary education and into the workforce. This initiative leverages partnerships between school districts, higher education institutions, employers, and community organizations to ensure that CTE programs meet regional workforce needs. The state's Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect programs provide tuition-free access to community and technical colleges, creating strong postsecondary pathways for CTE completers. These scholarship programs have significantly increased postsecondary enrollment among CTE students and have strengthened the connection between secondary CTE and advanced training opportunities.