Section 5 - High Quality CTE Programming
Programs of Study (POS)
In Minnesota, a CTE program of study follows the Perkins V federal law (Sec. 3 Definitions) defining it as a coordinated, non-duplicative sequence of academic and technical content at the secondary and postsecondary level. It must also:
- Incorporate challenging state academic standards
- Include both academic and technical knowledge and skills that are aligned with state-approved frameworks, including employability skills
- Be aligned with local and regional needs
- Progress in specificity (beginning with all aspects of an industry or career cluster) and lead to more occupation-specific instruction
- Have multiple entry and exit points that incorporate credentialing
- Culminate in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential
State-Recognized Programs of Study
Each consortium must have at least six State-Recognized Programs of Study. These programs of study must represent a minimum of four of the five career fields: Building and Moving, Caring for Communities, Cultivating Resources, Creating and Experiencing, and Investing in the Future.
State-Recognized Programs of Study Minimum Requirements
Perkins V calls for states to offer CTE programs of study. All state-recognized programs of study are high-quality and meet rigorous standards. Each program of study must meet the seven minimum requirements described in the framework below to be recognized by the state as a state-recognized program of study.
- Course standards must accurately align to the academic, technical, and employability skills learners must master for entry and success in a given career pathway. (Content standards, frameworks, and competencies that define what students are expected to know and be able to do to enter and advance in college and/or careers comprise the foundation of a program of study.)
- Programs of study incorporate active involvement from an integrated network of partners. (Ongoing relationships among education, business, and diverse community stakeholders bolster program of study design, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance.)
- Secondary programs meet MDE program-approval requirements and incorporate courses that lead to postsecondary credits/credentials. Secondary programs have appropriately licensed teachers and advisory committees, develop and ensure access to equitable student leadership opportunities, and provide career exploration activities leading to postsecondary credits/ credentials.
- Postsecondary academic programs meet 亚洲无码 Board policy and Higher Learning Commission requirements. (A cohesive arrangement of college-level credit courses and experiences, designed to accomplish predetermined objectives, lead to the award of a degree, diploma, or certificate.)
- Materials, equipment and resources: facilities, equipment, technology and materials used in the program of study reflect current workplace, industry and/or occupational standards and practices for installation, use, maintenance, and safety.
- Program of study incorporates authentic work experiences at the secondary and/or postsecondary level that are valued by industry. (Program of study engages students in authentic work-based learning experiences that demonstrate progressive occupational learning aligned to industry workforce needs.)
- Program of study development, improvement and advocacy are supported by findings from a comprehensive local needs assessment. (Systems and strategies for gathering, analyzing, and disseminating needs-assessment data are effective for guiding the improvement of programs of study, and available in plain language to enhance use by stakeholders for program of study advocacy.)
Consortia should review their programs of study annually to ensure they meet the minimum state-recognized criteria and to identify areas for improvement. Refer to the State-Recognized Programs of Study User Guide for more details.
Brokering
Brokering is a process a consortium may enter if the need for a specific CTE program has been identified through the CLNA process as a priority, but all the required components of a program of study are not available within the consortium itself. Any such brokering must be documented in the local application and approved by state staff. The consortium should, at a minimum, communicate with the brokering Perkins leaders and their respective institutions. The brokering consortia should be in close proximity to each other. Efforts should be made to facilitate connections between the instructors at the partnering institutions.
CTE Program Approval and Review
CTE programming quality is assessed through the initial approval process and a regular cycle of program review. Methodology is different for postsecondary and secondary programs.
Postsecondary Program Approval and Review
Postsecondary programs must be approved by the 亚洲无码 Academic Programs unit and appear in the official program inventory in accordance with 亚洲无码 Board Policy 3.36 and System Procedure 3.36.1. A CIP code is assigned to all academic programs by the institution. Perkins-eligible career and technical education programs are determined by the CIP code assigned. The program inventory identifies Perkins-eligible programs.
Important: The CIP code assigned to a program determines whether the program is identified as Perkins-eligible in the official program inventory.
While program approval is the responsibility of the 亚洲无码 system, program review is the responsibility of the individual institution. For all 亚洲无码 campuses, this review shall encompass all instructional areas and be structured according to discipline, academic program or program cluster, department, or other academic unit.
The review process must be in compliance with the accreditation standards of the Higher Learning Commission’s Criterion for Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement: “The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.”
Secondary MDE Program Approval and Review
This section is currently under construction.
Policy & Procedure History
Date of Implementation: 07/01/2026
Date of Last Review: 0/0/0