Definition and overview of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program of study (POS):
A CTE program of study (POS) is a comprehensive, structured approach for delivering academic and career and technical education to secondary students to prepare them for postsecondary education and career success. A CTE POS is a career and technical credit-based transition program that provides students with a “seamless transition” from secondary to postsecondary education by offering students opportunities to complete college courses during high school that lead to multiple degree options, or to a specialized degree or certification at a partnering postsecondary institution. At a minimum, a CTE POS combines two years of secondary education (e.g., junior and senior year) followed by a minimum of two years of postsecondary education.

A POS combines rigorous academic and career and technical preparation through the use of applied, contextual, and interdisciplinary/cross curricular instruction to prepare students to enter careers in one of 16 different broad industry areas (i.e., career clusters): (1) Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; (2) Architecture & Construction; (3) Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications; (4) Business Management and Administration; (5) Education and Training; (6) Finance; (7) Government & Public Administration; (8) Health Science; (9) Hospitality and Tourism; (10) Human Services; (11) Information Technology; (12) Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security; (13) Marketing, Sales & Service; (14) Manufacturing; (15) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and, (16) Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.

States’ Career Cluster Initiative
http://www.careerclusters.org/16clusters.cfm

Students enrolled in a CTE POS complete a coherent sequence of three or more courses that lead to a certification, an associate or a baccalaureate degree, and receive college credit for the courses they successfully complete through a written commitment between a secondary and postsecondary institution called an articulation agreement or memorandum of understanding. Students may receive dual credit/concurrent credit or articulated credit for college courses completed successfully during high school.

High school teachers may teach the college courses in the high school if they meet the requirements of the partnering postsecondary institution (e.g., master’s degree in content area). College requirements for secondary teachers teaching college courses may be different for each type of articulation (i.e., concurrent, dual and articulated credit).

Students enrolled in CTE programs of study are provided opportunities to participate in structured learning experiences, worksite learning experiences, when appropriate and available, and participate in career and technical student organization (CTSO) activities, which become an integral part of the instructional program. CTSO organizations must have State and national units that establish and coordinate the work and purposes of instruction in career and technical education at the local level.

Secondary school districts developing a new CTE POS must apply for program approval before operating the POS at the school district, and submit data to NJ SMART on a yearly basis.

NJ SMART
http://www.nj.gov/education/njsmart/

Secondary school districts revising existing CTE programs of study must apply for program re-approval according to the program re-approval schedule established by the Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE).

New or Re-approval of CTE programs of study:
http://www.nj.gov/education/cte/occprapp.htm  

If secondary school districts have an approved CTE POS, and submit data each year, they may be eligible for federal funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 2006.

Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 2006:
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/sectech/leg/perkins/index.html