Career-Technical Education

State-of-the-Art Career-Technical Centers

Career-Technical Programs are for students who are interested in getting a job immediately following high school graduation or for students who plan to attend college and seek employment after receiving their degree. 

Career-Technical Education Opportunities for All Students

Students in all high schools have access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses designed to prepare them for success in college, careers, and life. These courses are taught by instructors with real-world industry experience, ensuring that students gain both professional and technical skills that employers value.

As students progress through a CTE pathway, they benefit from unique opportunities to:

• Engage with Industry Partners – Build connections and learn directly from professionals in the field.
• Earn Industry-Recognized Credentials – Validate their skills and enhance employability.
• Participate in Work-Based Learning – Apply classroom knowledge in authentic workplace settings.
• Earn College Credit – Get a head start on postsecondary education while still in high school.

CTE empowers students to explore their interests, develop in-demand skills, and graduate ready for the next step in their academic and career journey.

Helping students develop essential professional & technical skills

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Opportunities for Middle School Students

Students in all middle schools have access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses that introduce them to a variety of career options and help them begin developing essential professional and technical skills. These courses are taught by instructors with real-world industry experience, giving students authentic insights into the world of work. CTE helps students think about their future and explore opportunities after graduation, whether that means entering the workforce, enlisting in the military, or enrolling in a college or university. By starting early, students gain a foundation that prepares them for high school CTE pathways and sets them on a path toward success in life after school.

Delivering career and technical education to students

Career Technical Planning Districts (CTPDs) play a vital role in delivering career and technical education (CTE) to students, emphasizing career readiness and equitable outcomes. Ohio law requires all school districts and community (charter) schools to be members of a CTPD.

CTPDs can operate as:

1. Comprehensive
   • Large single district with 1,500 or more students and offers career-technical education in career centers and/or at existing high schools in the district. 
2. Compact
   • Multiple school districts enter into a contract of operation to provide career-technical education. They share programs between and within their own buildings.
3. Joint Vocational School District
   • Academics and technical skills:
     1. 11th and 12 grades;
     2. Governed by JVSD school board;
     3. District with an IRN;
     4. May offer “satellite” programs in other schools/associate schools
4. Correctional 
   • CTE programs are offered in youth and adult correctional facilities in Ohio. 

A CTPD is a local education agency configuration that meets the minimum requirements of law and subsequent standards to offer state sanctioned career-technical programming. 

A CTPD Lead refers to the lead school district within the Career Technical Planning District, which is a specific role in Ohio's career-technical education system. The lead district is determined locally, based on an agreement between members of the CTPD. The determined lead district is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing career-technical education (CTE) for all member schools within the CTPD. This includes applying for and managing federal funding. For example, Perkins funding is allocated to the lead district of the CTPD and then the CTPD Lead distributes the funding locally based on local application approval. 

Additionally, the lead district of each secondary CTPD must conduct an annual review of all CTE programs within the district to ensure resources are optimized and continuous improvement of program quality is achieved.

Ohio’s career clusters, pathways and programs inform learners as they navigate their way to graduation and success beyond high school. The framework also provides a useful guide to bridge secondary and postsecondary learning and create individual student programs of study for a range of career options. Beginning as early as middle school, these courses help students discover their interests and their passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that can lead to success in high school, college and career. 

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