CTE Curriculum Development in Pennsylvania

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.

New York operates one of the largest and most diverse Career and Technical Education systems in the nation, serving students through BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services), local school districts, and the City University and State University systems. The state's CTE programs span the full range of career clusters and serve students in settings ranging from New York City's specialized career academies to rural BOCES centers in the Adirondacks. The state's CTE system benefits from New York's extraordinary economic diversity, which encompasses finance, healthcare, technology, media, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and countless other sectors. This economic breadth creates abundant opportunities for CTE programs to connect students with meaningful career pathways in virtually every field. New York has made significant investments in modernizing its CTE system, including the development of approved CTE programs that meet rigorous quality standards and provide students with both technical skills and academic credentials. The state's CTE approval process is among the most comprehensive in the nation, ensuring program quality and industry relevance.

Ohio operates one of the largest and most established career-technical education systems in the United States, serving approximately a quarter million students annually through a network of career-technical planning districts, compact schools, and comprehensive high school programs. The state's CTE infrastructure is organized around 16 career clusters and offers more than 100 distinct career-technical programs spanning industries from advanced manufacturing to healthcare. Ohio's career-technical system is distinctive for its emphasis on career-technical planning districts (CTPDs), which coordinate CTE delivery across multiple school districts. These planning districts ensure that students across urban, suburban, and rural communities have equitable access to high-quality career-technical programs. Many of Ohio's career-technical centers are nationally recognized for their facilities and program outcomes. The state has invested heavily in aligning CTE with workforce development priorities, particularly in advanced manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare. Ohio's TechCred and Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP) initiatives complement CTE by funding industry-recognized credentials for workers, creating a pipeline that begins with secondary CTE and extends into postsecondary education and the workforce.

West Virginia's career and technical education system serves approximately 42,000 secondary students through programs offered in comprehensive high schools, career and technical education centers, and multi-county vocational centers across the state's 55 counties. CTE plays a particularly vital role in West Virginia's education and economic development strategy, as the state works to diversify its economy beyond traditional extractive industries. West Virginia's CTE programs are organized around career clusters and pathways that align with the state's economic priorities, including healthcare, energy and petrochemicals, advanced manufacturing, technology, and tourism. The state has invested in modernizing CTE programs to prepare students for emerging industries while maintaining strong programs in traditional sectors that remain important to the state's economy. The Simulated Workplace initiative is a hallmark of West Virginia's CTE system, transforming CTE classrooms into functioning businesses where students experience real-world workplace protocols, including drug testing, attendance policies, performance evaluations, and team-based projects. This innovative approach has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in developing workplace readiness skills.