CTE Curriculum Development in North Carolina

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.

South Carolina's career and technical education system serves over 200,000 secondary students through programs offered in comprehensive high schools and career centers across the state. The state's CTE system is organized around career clusters and pathways that prepare students for high-demand occupations in South Carolina's growing economy, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, and logistics. South Carolina has distinguished itself through strong industry partnerships, particularly with the state's automotive and aerospace manufacturing sectors. Companies such as BMW, Boeing, Volvo, and Michelin have invested significantly in CTE partnerships, providing equipment, internships, and advisory support that ensure programs remain aligned with industry needs. The state's Personal Pathways to Success initiative ensures that every student develops an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) that includes a career cluster focus, making CTE an integral part of the educational experience for all South Carolina students. This comprehensive approach has helped increase CTE enrollment and completion rates across the state.

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.

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.