Student board members push earlier CTE exposure and priority enrollment to strengthen pathways

Student board members told the Provo City School Board that middle school students and high-school student representatives identified gaps in awareness of CTE (career and technical education) pathways and recommended earlier exposure and scheduling changes to increase completion rates.

Monica Tuanas and Hutch Folley presented a summary of a meeting with middle school students that focused on CTE pathways. Students said many do not understand CTE options until late in high school. The students and student board members proposed introducing CTE pathways in seventh or eighth grade, hosting CTE-focused events at middle schools (similar to existing shoreline days) and creating workshops where current pathway students can demonstrate coursework and career options.

Student board members also proposed giving seniors — and in some cases juniors — priority enrollment access to CTE classes needed to complete a pathway, and suggested modest user-interface improvements in the class-choice system (for example, pull-down labels that indicate whether a course counts toward a CTE pathway) to help students plan.

The students recommended joint student events between middle and high schools to build relationships and increase awareness. Board members and staff responded that such activities are possible and encouraged continued planning.

The student report also noted that applications for next year’s student board members are due Monday, March 17; the board will review applications the same week and hold interviews and selections the following week, with announcements targeted for April 1.