Program Enhancements

Students learn through career exploration, take college courses and earn industry credentials. They move outside the boundaries of the school building into work-based experiences, apprenticeships and internships that often lead to jobs after high school. To ensure students receive personalized and customized education, learning supports are available to schools, students and families. 
 

Delivery Methods

Career-technical education provides students of all ages and backgrounds with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. The traditional delivery models of Career-Technical Education encompasses Joint Vocational, Compact and Comprehensive School Districts. However, students have the opportunity to engage in career-technical education in non traditional delivery models.

  • Map of Career Technical Planning Districts - A Career Technical Planning District (CTPD) is a local education agency configuration (comprehensive district, compact/contract district, or joint vocational school district) that meets the minimum requirements of law and subsequent standards to offer state-sanctioned career-technical programming.
  • Integrated Coursework and Awarding Simultaneous Credit - Ohio law allows districts, schools, community schools and chartered nonpublic schools to integrate content standards from multiple subject areas into a single course for which students can earn simultaneous credit. 
  • Credit Flexibility - Ohio law allows students to earn units of high school credit based on demonstration of subject area competency, instead of or in combination with, completing hours of classroom instruction.
  • Job Training Coordination - Job Training Coordination (JTC) programs provide support and assistance to students who require intensive support to transition from school to the work environment. The goal is to help students obtain and maintain competitive or supported employment through individualized and community-based training, collaborating with business partners and developing a support network.
  • Career-Tech in Community Schools - Ohio Secondary Career-Tech Program Guidelines define specific expectations for career-technical programming to assure that all students are provided high-quality curriculum aligned with state initiatives and standards. 
  • Career-Tech in Correctional Institutions - Career-technical education programs are offered in youth and adult correctional facilities in Ohio. State prison agencies through the Ohio Central School System and Buckeye United School District collaborate with the Office of Career-Technical Education to receive career-technical support from federal Perkins and state funds.
  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is focused on the infusion of high-level mathematics, technology and science into curriculum, and STEAM, which infuses the arts and design with STEM. 
  • Secondary Career-Technical Education in Ohio Technical Centers - Secondary Career-Technical Education and Ohio Technical Centers can collaborate to provide access to high-quality CTE that meets the needs of Ohio’s workforce. This program delivery model is intended to provide the flexibility schools need in preparing students for their future when students cannot enroll locally due to course capacity, scheduling conflicts, lack of course offering, lack of qualified instructor or lack of facilities.

Practical Learning

Industry need is the driving force for expanding programs and encouraging student enrollment in programs. Career-technical education prepares students for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies and makes academic content accessible to students by providing it in a hands-on context. 
 

  • Apprenticeships and Pre-apprenticeships - Work-based learning opportunities  include apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and job placements designed to create sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings.
  • Work-Based Learning  - Work-based learning is a coordinated sequence of experiences designed to provide students with real-world learning through partnerships with local business and industry. These learning activities help a young person explore careers and choose an appropriate career path.
  • Tax Credit Certificate Program for Work-Based Learning Experiences - The document serves as guidance for the Tax Credit Certificate Program for Work-Based Learning Experiences as passed in Senate Bill 166. In this program, a nonrefundable credit is allowed against a taxpayer's aggregate tax liability for a taxpayer that holds a tax credit certificate issued by the Department and employs an eligible student employee.
  • Industry-Recognized Credentials - Possessing an industry-recognized credential not only helps a student prove competency and capability in a given field, but also demonstrates to the community and employers that the student is knowledgeable, properly trained and equipped to carry out his or her duties. For many students, earning an industry-recognized credential can be an important step toward qualifying for high school graduation.
  • Senior Only Credential Programs - The Senior Only Credential Program is for students in their senior year who have completed most of their curriculum requirements and can be part of a path to graduation.


Learning Supports

Ohio has a critical responsibility to ensure each student has access to relevant and challenging academic experiences and educational resources necessary for success across race, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, family background and income.
 

  • Equity in Career-Technical Education - To support the education community in ensuring students in special populations and subgroups have meaningful access and are engaged in high-quality career-technical education programs, the Department has made ensuring an equitable education for each student is a priority.
  • Ohio Tech Prep - Six Ohio Tech Prep Regional Centers work with their education partners to increase student access to quality career-technical education pathways that provide opportunities to earn college credit while in high school.
  • Career-Based Intervention - Career Based Intervention (CBI) programs are designed for students ages 12-21 in grades 7-12, who are identified as disadvantaged (either academically, economically, or both) and students with disabilities, who have barriers to achieving academic and career success. CBI helps students improve academic competency, develop professional skills, and implement a career plan that will serve them on the path to graduation and beyond. 
  • Family and Consumer Sciences - Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) is a set of courses that draws from a range of disciplines and contexts (education, business, social, economic, cultural, technological, geographical, political) to achieve optimal and sustainable living for individuals, families and communities.
  • Career Connections and OhioMeansJobs K-12 - Today, students need to see a link between what they are learning and future work. Career Connections offer practical ways for teachers and school counselors, families and community members to show students, as early as in kindergarten, the types of careers possible for them. 
  • High Schools That Work - High Schools That Work (HSTW) is the nation's first large-scale effort to jointly engage the cooperation of state and school leaders, teachers, students, parents and the community. The aim is to improve how high school students are prepared for work, careers and further education by enhancing curriculum and instruction at high school and middle-grade levels. 
  • Southern Regional Education Board Advanced Career (AC) Grant - Ohio high schools and career-technical centers can apply for grants to implement Advanced Career Pathways. The purpose of Advanced Career (AC) Grant is to support schools in deploying rigorous career and technical education programs of study.
  • Ohio Schools to Watch (OSTW) - Ohio Schools to Watch (OSTW) is a recognition and capacity-building program designed especially for middle grades schools. OSTW is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio Middle School Association, Otterbein University and the Ohio Federation of Teachers.
  • Ohio Schools to Watch (OSTW) Partnership Frequently Asked Questions - Questions and answers about the Ohio Schools to Watch program.

Last Modified: 3/18/2024 10:05:32 AM