CTE Curriculum Development in South 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.

North Carolina's Career and Technical Education system is one of the most well-developed in the Southeast, serving students through all 115 local school systems and the extensive North Carolina Community College System. The state has built a comprehensive CTE infrastructure that connects secondary and postsecondary programs through clearly defined career pathways. The state's economy has undergone significant transformation in recent decades, shifting from traditional industries like tobacco and textiles to advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, financial services, information technology, and healthcare. North Carolina's CTE programs have evolved to reflect this economic transformation, with growing programs in STEM fields, healthcare, and technology complementing traditional strengths in agriculture and trades. North Carolina's CTE system benefits from strong state-level support and a well-organized governance structure. The Department of Public Instruction oversees secondary CTE, while the Community College System manages postsecondary programs, and both agencies collaborate through career pathways initiatives that create seamless transitions for students.

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.