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CMCSS adds middle-school career labs, expands dual enrollment and industry certifications
Summary
District staff described new middle-school career exploration labs, growth in dual-enrollment options and a significant increase in industry certifications and work-based learning partnerships as part of Ready Graduate milestones.
Dana Payne, director of Career and Technical Education for CMCSS, told the board the district has launched career exploration labs in every middle school, expanded dual-enrollment partnerships and increased industry certification attainment and work-based learning opportunities.
Payne said the new middle-school career labs are nine-week, rotating related-arts courses offered in 6th–8th grade that allow students to spend roughly 10 days on each module, doing hands-on activities tied to high-school CTE pathways. Examples cited included child-development simulations, firefighter perimeter drills and medical-skill exercises. The labs are aligned with high-school CTE pathways so students can move smoothly from middle-school exploration to high-school programs.
On postsecondary access, Payne said dual-enrollment opportunities and options have grown since 2022 and listed partners including Austin Peay State University (APSU), Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), Nashville State and the University of Tennessee at Martin. She noted that the presentation's “total enrollment” figure counts course enrollments and that a single student may account for multiple enrollments.
Payne reported that more than 30 industry certifications were offered last year and 1,863 certifications were earned, an increase of about 700 from the prior year, with an 86% pass rate among students who sat for the exams. She also said roughly 1,288 students were enrolled in JROTC programs across grades 9–12.
Work-based learning has expanded to include internships with business and industry partners; district staff described examples such as construction students building portable classrooms and cosmetology students earning licenses while operating salon services. Payne outlined a district “work ethic distinction” awarded to seniors who earn at least 32 of 40 rubric points across academic, technical and professional skill categories.
County Commissioner remarks at the meeting praised TCAT’s Constance Brown and encouraged continued expansion of technical-skills pathways; district staff invited businesses interested in partnership to contact Amy Jackson or Dr. Payne for next steps and to review the statutory requirements and student-safety training involved.
