CTE Curriculum Development in Delaware

Maryland operates one of the most comprehensive CTE systems in the Mid-Atlantic region, serving students through programs that span all 24 local school systems. The state's Career and Technology Education programs are designed around ten career clusters and offer students structured pathways from high school through postsecondary education and into the workforce. The state benefits from its proximity to major employment centers including the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Baltimore's healthcare and logistics industries, and the cybersecurity corridor along the I-95 corridor. These economic drivers shape CTE program offerings and create abundant opportunities for work-based learning and industry partnerships. Maryland has made significant investments in aligning CTE with its college and career readiness standards, ensuring that CTE completers are prepared for both immediate employment and further education. The state's strong community college system provides natural articulation pathways for CTE students seeking postsecondary credentials and degrees.

New Jersey's Career and Technical Education system is one of the most extensive in the Northeast, operating through a network of county vocational-technical school districts, comprehensive high schools, and community colleges. Each of New Jersey's 21 counties has a dedicated vocational-technical school district, providing a strong institutional foundation for CTE delivery across the state. The state's CTE programs benefit from New Jersey's strategic location in the Boston-Washington corridor and its diverse economy, which spans pharmaceuticals, financial services, healthcare, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and technology. CTE pathways are designed to connect students with these industries through rigorous academic and technical preparation. New Jersey has invested heavily in its county vocational-technical schools, many of which have developed selective admissions programs that attract high-achieving students. This has helped elevate the reputation of CTE and demonstrate that career preparation and academic excellence are complementary goals.

Pennsylvania operates one of the nation's most extensive career and technical education systems, with a network of 85 career and technical centers (CTCs) and over 170 approved CTE programs serving more than 180,000 students annually. The state's CTE infrastructure reflects its industrial heritage while evolving to meet the demands of a modern, knowledge-based economy. Pennsylvania's CTE system is organized through area career and technical centers, which serve students from multiple sending school districts, and through comprehensive high school programs that offer CTE within the traditional school setting. This dual-delivery model ensures broad access to career-technical education across the state's diverse communities. The state has made significant investments in modernizing CTE programs, particularly in high-growth sectors such as healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and energy. Pennsylvania's Industry Partnerships and the state's workforce development network collaborate closely with CTE to ensure that programs prepare students for in-demand careers in the Commonwealth.

Virginia's career and technical education system is one of the most comprehensive in the Southeast, serving over 300,000 secondary students across the state's 132 school divisions. The state's CTE programs are organized around 17 career clusters and offer more than 130 programs of study, reflecting Virginia's diverse economy that spans technology, defense, healthcare, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing. Virginia has been a leader in CTE innovation, particularly through initiatives such as the Workplace Readiness Skills assessment, which evaluates students' competency in essential workplace skills, and the Governor's STEM Academies, which integrate rigorous academics with career-technical education in high-demand STEM fields. The state's CTE system benefits from Virginia's proximity to major federal agencies, military installations, and a thriving technology corridor in Northern Virginia. These connections provide unique work-based learning, internship, and apprenticeship opportunities for CTE students, particularly in cybersecurity, information technology, and government-related career fields.