CTE programs prepare students to enter today’s competitive workforce. CTE courses support the California Common Core State Standards and CTE Model Curriculum Standards, preparing students for a successful high school experience, post-secondary options and the world of work.

 VUSD CTE classes are structured around Programs of Study that involve a non-duplicative, multi-year sequence of courses that supports and integrates core academic knowledge with industry specific CTE Model Curriculum Standards.  These courses begin in high school and lead to post-secondary courses that culminate in an industry recognized certificate, credential or degree.

 The Office of the State Superintendent of Education, describes a High Quality CTE Program of Study to include the following attributes:

 Prepares students for entry-level employment in a specific occupation and is aligned with business/industry standards:

• Consists of a coherent sequence of three or more CTE courses, and includes strong academic and career and technical courses
• May lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the secondary level
• Incorporates opportunities to participate in structured learning experiences and career and technical student organizations (CTSO)
• Incorporates applied, contextual, cross curricular and interdisciplinary instructional strategies into the curricula
• Leads to an industry-recognized credential, certificate in post-secondary education, apprenticeship and an associate or baccalaureate degree
• Incorporates and aligns secondary and post-secondary education elements such as curricula, standards and assessments
• Incorporates opportunities to participate in structured learning experiences, and career and technical student organizations
• Incorporates applied, contextual, cross curricular and interdisciplinary instructional strategies into the curricula
• Provides students with opportunities to earn college credit for college courses successfully completed during high school (e.g., dual/concurrent credit or articulated credit)
• Includes an articulation agreement or memorandum of understanding to ensure that students have a seamless transition from secondary to post-secondary education. Agreements must be signed and dated on a yearly basis by the secondary school superintendent and the college president.